Building Talent Resilience in Volatile Markets

In the current climate of market volatility and economic flux, one truth remains clear: organizations must look beyond the present moment and prioritize their long-term strategies over reactive decision-making. Pertinent now more than ever for North American executives, who are being forced to rethinking their approach to talent supply chains.  

The question is no longer just how to fill roles, but how to future-proof talent strategies to weather any storm. 

At PageGroup, we’ve spent 48 years navigating the highs and lows of global economies. That longevity has taught us that resilience is built through vision, not reaction. Today’s talent leaders must take the long view establishing strategies that adapt to change while staying grounded in long-term goals. 

So what can businesses do now to strengthen their talent supply chains for the rest of 2025 and beyond?  

To help you respond to the ever changing economic climate, here are some actionable steps that you can take in the next 30 days: 

1. Think Long-Term, Not Reactively

You may feel strong pressure to immediately respond amidst uncertainty but doing so can often miss the bigger picture. Instead, use the changing conditions as a catalyst to make sure your talent supply chain is as optimal as possible.  

Here’s some checkpoints to look into: 

• Reassess the current state of your talent supply chain. 
• Review and refine your long term talent roadmap. 
• Reiterate and communicate your vision to your teams and build stability. 

Many are also considering forming cross-functional tariff response teams, designed to scenario-plan, build response strategies, and establish robust governance controls. This approach is helping organizations to remain agile and prepared for various outcomes.

2. Strengthen Supplier Relationships 

While you’re assessing the state of your talent supply chain, use it as a chance to reconnect and strengthen your supplier relations, doing so can help to foster collaborative solutions when the need arises.

Meet with your talent suppliers to: 

• Review capabilities. 
• Renegotiate contracts where needed. 
• Reinforce communication and accountability.

3. Diversify Talent Sources

The changing markets may put even the most well organized plan into disarray, if you’ve got projects with specific talent needs - analyze where you’re sourcing that talent—both domestically and globally. Is the economic activity creating different needs for your business?  

Key questions to ask your procurement teams: 

• Which suppliers are exceeding expectations and ready to scale? 
• Which are misaligned with your long-term goals? 
• Where will you need talent in the short and long term?

4. Maximize Your MSP and RPO Partners

Global enterprises will often have established workforce programs with trusted third parties. In times like these, your MSP (Managed Service Provider) and RPO (Recruitment Process Outsourcing) partners are powerful allies.

You can use them to: 

• Scorecard current suppliers. 
• Diversify and pre-vet new suppliers. 
• Launch scalable project-based RPO hiring for permanent roles. 
   

5. Enhance Reporting and Compliance

Use this moment as a chance to partner with your VMS (Vendor Management System) provider for end-to-end reporting on your talent supply chain. If you’ve already got an MSP/RPO in place- work with them to ensure:

• Talent is sourced from low-cost, compliant regions. 
• Employment laws are followed across all jurisdictions. 
• Hiring managers can access talent quickly through scalable, compliant processes. 

The market may be uncertain, but that doesn’t mean your talent strategy has to be. With a proactive mindset and the right partners, you can lead your organization with confidence and clarity.

As part of the current climate, PageGroup is offering complimentary talent workshops for North American clients impacted by the tariff and policy changes. These sessions connect you with local talent solution experts who can help consult on your specific needs. To book a complimentary session, click here.