Forecasting Talent: Why July Is the Perfect Time to Start Year-End Planning

Let's Talk About Your Talent Needs.

As the summer heats up, many businesses are focused on mid-year reviews, PTO calendars, and finishing Q3 strong. But for proactive leaders, July is the ideal time to start forecasting talent needs and setting your organization up for a strong year-end close.

Whether you're in finance, IT, HR, or administration, the second half of the year brings increased workloads, strategic deadlines, and seasonal transitions that require careful planning and the right people in place.

Start Year-End Planning Now

Get Ahead of the Year-End Rush

The final quarter of the year is notoriously busy. Budget planning, year-end reporting, holiday coverage, and project wrap-ups create a perfect storm of priorities. Waiting until Q4 to assess your staffing needs can leave you scrambling to fill roles or backfill for PTO. By planning in July, you can identify gaps early and begin sourcing talent before competition increases in the fall.

Align Talent with Business Goals

Your year-end business goals likely include closing projects, launching initiatives, or reconciling financials. Do you have the talent in place to get there? Taking a strategic look at your current team alongside your goals allows you to identify where temporary consultants, project-based hires, or additional training can help bridge the gap and boost performance.

Leverage Budget Flexibility

Mid-year is a prime opportunity to reallocate the unspent budget toward talent solutions. If you’ve saved on costs earlier in the year or anticipate Q4 overflow, July offers the chance to invest those dollars into the resources needed to finish the year strong, without waiting for next year’s budget approval.

Plan Around PTO and Seasonal Shifts

The second half of the year is full of time off, including back-to-school schedules, fall holidays, and winter breaks. Planning in July gives you time to balance workloads, cross-train, and bring in extra support where needed, ensuring business continuity and customer satisfaction.

Start Recruitment Cycles Early

It takes time to find the right talent, especially for specialized roles or leadership positions. By starting the recruitment process now, you have more room to find candidates that match your technical needs and your company culture, without the pressure of last-minute decisions.

Support Employee Wellbeing and Retention

Overburdened teams are more likely to experience burnout, especially as deadlines and year-end pressures mount. By forecasting now and supplementing your workforce proactively, you demonstrate a commitment to employee wellbeing, improving morale, and boosting retention through the end of the year.

Plan Ahead with BGSF

At BGSF, we understand that effective workforce planning is the key to staying ahead of seasonal demands and year-end challenges. Whether you need expert consultants for audits, temporary staff for busy periods, or strategic partners for ongoing talent needs, we provide flexible, specialized solutions across finance, IT, HR, and more.

By partnering with us early, you can avoid staffing shortages and confidently navigate evolving business demands. Let’s connect to help you forecast your talent needs and finish the year strong with the right people in place.

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Don’t wait until fall to realize you’re understaffed. Start the conversation in July, because smart year-end planning starts now. Let’s talk about how BGSF can help you forecast talent and finish the year strong.