IndustryWeek (03/14/12) Jonathan Katz

Employers have long fretted about a lack of applicants with the necessary skills to meet modern labor demands, but executives say they are now also having difficultly filling leadership roles within their organizations. Nearly a third of executives polled by Right Management, the talent and career management experts within the ManpowerGroup, cited a lack of high-potential leaders in their organization as their most pressing human resource challenge.

The sluggish economic climate has hampered recruiting efforts, says Michael Haid, senior vice president of talent management for Right Management. “Lean times make it hard for organizations seeking to recruit, retain, or develop future leaders,” he says. “And they’re keenly aware of the tough competitive environment they’re in and the need to hold onto and build leadership.”