Episode 75
An untapped pool of diverse talent: The unemployed | with Colin Donnery
Millions of job seekers remain unemployed despite record vacancies. Colin Donnery, who runs both a recruitment agency and Ireland’s leading employability service, reveals why confidence—not skills—is the real barrier, and how employers can unlock this overlooked talent source.
Episode Key Takeaways
A disconnect exists between employer demand and worker supply that technology amplifies. Automated screening systems reject candidates with employment gaps before humans ever see them, while unemployed applicants—often from lower socioeconomic backgrounds—lack confidence to apply in the first place. The result: 10 million US job vacancies alongside 7 million unemployed people.
Confidence is the critical building block, not positivity. Colin’s work with 150,000+ unemployed people through Turas Nua shows that realistic expectations—not motivational platitudes—rebuild agency. When someone knows 76% of people in their cohort land jobs, they move from paralysed fear to actionable hope.
Unemployed workers represent a diverse, loyal talent pool that employers systematically overlook. Minority groups, older workers, and women are overrepresented in unemployment; when hired and supported, they demonstrate higher retention and commitment than existing staff—yet most organisations still treat unemployment as a CSR checkbox rather than a talent strategy.
Simplify application processes and remove friction points. Forty-five-minute website forms, chatbots requiring IT literacy, and multi-stage screening disproportionately exclude people who’ve been out of work. One-click apply and human-first intake dramatically improve conversion and candidate experience.
Employers must be purposeful and realistic about support. Hiring unemployed talent requires onboarding investment, mentorship, and patience—not because the person is broken, but because they’re out of the habit of work. Organisations that challenge themselves to provide genuine development pathways, not just placements, see sustainable outcomes.
Frequently
Asked
Questions
Why do unemployed candidates struggle to get hired in a tight labor market?
Automated screening systems flag employment gaps as red flags, eliminating candidates before human review. Simultaneously, unemployed applicants—especially from lower socioeconomic backgrounds—lack confidence to apply, creating a self-reinforcing cycle. Tech bias and human bias combine to exclude a pool that could fill vacancies.
How do you build confidence in long-term unemployed job seekers?
Measure distance from the labour market across ten dimensions: skills, mental health, transport, caring responsibilities, and confidence itself. Set realistic, achievable goals rather than motivational platitudes. Show evidence of success (e.g., 76% placement rates). Pair candidates with dedicated advisers who invest in them personally, signalling genuine commitment.
What practical changes can employers make to hire more unemployed talent?
Simplify applications to one-click apply. Remove chatbots and multi-stage screening that exclude people with lower tech literacy. Partner with employability organisations. Be purposeful: identify underrepresented groups in your community and create pathways. Commit to onboarding support and realistic timelines for productivity.
Why do unemployed workers often become more loyal employees?
They’ve experienced the cost of job loss and understand its impact. When organisations invest in their development and treat them as full team members—not charity hires—they demonstrate higher retention and commitment than peers hired from active employment. They bring lived experience and perspective that strengthens teams.
How should leaders avoid undermining confidence in hiring and onboarding?
Undermining confidence feels like power in the moment but creates destructive relationships and behaviours. Instead, actively build confidence by acknowledging challenges as normal, showing pathways to growth, and avoiding the trap of correcting minor errors to prove superiority. Confidence is a superpower; its absence is a liability.