Date of Conferral

2017

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)

School

Management

Advisor

Chad C. Sines

Abstract

Acquiring information about successful human resources strategies that help to effectively recruit skilled labor is critical for manufacturers. Manufacturing is the backbone of the United States, yet 6 of 10 skilled labor jobs are unfilled because traditional methods and strategies used by human resource leaders to recruit are inadequate. Guided through the lens of strategic human resource management and using the concepts and views of resource-based theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that manufacturing human resource professionals use to successfully recruit skilled labor in Northwest Louisiana. The data collection for this case study was performed through face-to-face semistructured interviews via purposeful sampling and company documents that included planning materials, corporate hiring strategy documents, and the company website. Data were coded and analyzed to obtain the development of a set of recurring themes. The 4 relevant themes that emerged from the coded data included the following: recruitment methods, external pressures of the region/marketplace, outreach and education partnerships, and leadership support. By implementing strategies supported by senior leadership, human resource professionals have greater levels of success in hiring skilled labor. Implications for positive social change include providing an opportunity for human resource professionals in the manufacturing industry to develop innovative ideas and solutions to respond to the nascent recruitment challenges for skilled labor positions, thereby reducing unemployment and contributing to the local economy.

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