A new survey has revealed that the number one priority for human resources (HR) departments within organisations is to retain employees.

Taleo Corporation, a talent management solutions firm, has said that it is imperative that firms “identify and retain top talent” in order to remain competitive as the economy downturn continues.

The research also revealed that some 48 per cent of those 150 senior HR managers questioned said they wanted a system to “improve performance management, succession and career planning” in the coming year.

Commenting on the results of the survey, Chris Phillips, vice president of international marketing for Taleo, said: “Whilst the current economic climate is clearly influencing the agenda for HR leaders, the challenges of retaining, motivating and aligning employees remain a priority.”

Last month, Materials Handling World Magazine reported that JCB was committing to “one of the biggest employee training initiatives in its history”, in an attempt to get through the economic downturn.

April Hayhurst, commercial director at Corporate College, Derby, who will be providing the training, said: “JCB have demonstrated an incredibly high level of commitment to their workforce in an extremely difficult economic climate.”