General
talent war
What does talent war mean?
Intense competition among companies to attract, hire, and retain scarce skilled workers, often driving up pay, perks, and hiring incentives.
"In the tech talent war, engineers fielded three competing offers before lunch."
Origin
Business term stemming from the 1990s McKinsey-coined phrase 'war for talent.'
Frequently asked questions
What is a talent war?
It's intense competition among companies to attract, hire, and keep scarce skilled workers, often pushing up pay and perks.
Where does the term talent war come from?
It stems from the phrase 'war for talent,' coined by McKinsey in the 1990s.
When do talent wars happen?
They occur when skilled workers are in short supply, such as in hot fields like tech, where candidates can field multiple offers.
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