New Research Reveals the Trends and Takeaways of a More Competitive Nonprofit Job Market

A recently published article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy points to a robust nonprofit job market in the DC and NYC regions and highlights the challenges of attracting and retaining top talent in a more competitive marketplace. Based on research by PNP Staffing Group (formerly Professionals for Nonprofits), the article notes that 58 percent of nonprofits in the DC and New York metropolitan areas plan to hire new staff this year, a continuation of an upward trend in nonprofit hiring.

The article and research include several relevant takeaways for ProInspire, its nonprofit partners, and its program participants:

• Millennials now make up half of the workforce at organizations in DC and New York City, causing employers to rethink their ideal candidate profile. For example, shorter job tenures may no longer be a red flag but rather a generational characteristic, and strong writing skills may not be a reasonable expectation of a digital generation.
• Higher salaries for key positions is the top recruiting priority, followed closely by raising awareness of what an organization does — a branding and communications function that will drive demand for candidates with this skill set.
• Training and professional development topped the list of benefits sought by nonprofit job seekers – a first in PNP’s annual survey. While over half of employers surveyed said that job candidates ask about training, nearly 70 percent of the organizations said they seldom or never provide such benefits.

With a focus on talent development, ProInspire can partner with nonprofit organizations to address these issues through our ProInspire Fellowship, Managing for Success, and Leadership Development programs.