Overcoming a shortage of talent
We've noticed a bit of a talent shortage in a particular skillset…
Talent shortage is an issue that always rears its head across every industry, but it's sometimes difficult to know how to actually overcome it, no matter how often it occurs. This most recent talent shortage in Medical Devices has sprung up quickly (you'll see why in a second!), and there are conscious efforts across the industry to try and solve this. But is there anything you can do now to keep yourself ahead of the game and plug your existing talent gap first?
What's the reason for this talent shortage in 2026?
Now, it's harsh to call it a talent shortage, but there really is no other word for it. The reality is that the current market hasn't quite caught up to the demand for a certain skillset and knowledge base. And you can probably hazard a guess at what that subject matter is… it is, of course, AI. The biggest buzzword in the working world over recent years, it's impossible to escape the impact it's had, and will continue to have over the coming years.
As mentioned, the main reason for this talent shortage is that there are not currently enough workers in Medical Devices who have the skills or the knowledge of AI implementations to fulfil all the demand. And Medical Devices has always been a forward-thinking industry that attracts brilliant minds, so this talent shortage comes as a bit of a shock to the industry. But never fear, there are ways to bring the skills and experience companies need into the industry, and here are a few options we'd recommend.
Look to outside-the-box areas to find skills/talent
Talent shortages tend to only be industry-specific, so if you're willing to look past industry experience and focus on the skills that you need, you'll be able to find great candidates that may be overlooked by competitors. Competing for a tight pool of skilled candidates that exist in the Medical Device industry is likely to leave you disappointed or leave a substantial hole in your budget. Looking to acquire talent from other industries is not just a good alternative, it may even be a crucial element of your recruitment strategy going forward.
There are a number of industries where Medical Device companies can find the AI skills they require. One major field that should be considered is the world of Consumer Electronics and Wearables. AI plays an important role in this industry as it processes the collected data and can turn it into hyper-personalised information; having people with the skills to implement these features is where the AI skills come in.
Wearable technology has become a big talking point in Medical Devices due to its importance in patient monitoring and health predictions. There are a lot of ways that wearable tech can be used to improve patient welfare, and having talent in the industry that understands the technology and can implement the ideas is a highly sought-after skillset that can be taken directly from this industry.
Other industries to take AI skills from include the SaaS space, Robotics, and even Aerospace and Defence. In these industries, AI skills are crucial in the development and implementation of new technology, as well as improving overall user experience - all useful within Medical Devices moving forward. AI skills are sought after in a wide variety of industries, so hiring skilled candidates will likely cost a pretty penny, even when not hiring from Medical Devices.
So, if you are looking for a cost-effective solution, we may have a different proposition for you.
Training for the skills you need
The other major alternative to bring new skills into your company is through training.
Investing resources into training to upskill your existing staff members is a more cost-effective way to acquire in-demand skills, but the trade-off comes with an investment in time as well. This is not an overnight process; it could take weeks, months, or even years to see the full fruits of your labour. If you are willing to put in the time for this, then the impact it can have on the business doesn't just stop at bringing these much-needed skills into the team…
Another benefit of upskilling is the impact it has on your existing staff members. We've found that the demand for upskilling opportunities in a role has become an increasingly important factor for talent when considering their future; 42% of workers express an interest in upskilling or are actively seeking development opportunities. This is a substantial proportion of the workforce, so placing emphasis onto this offering will have a positive impact on close to half of your people. Investing into your employees is likely to make them feel valued by the company, and can do wonders for loyalty and overall happiness in their position.
Those are a few options available to give you the best chance of filling your talent gap before anyone else. There is one other method you can pick, and that's working with us! Feel free to drop me a message on sarah.cavanagh@fmctalent.com to see how our services can give you the best chance of filling those business-critical roles.
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