Given the current uncertainty around unemployment, HR leaders in the US are asking questions about whether to recruit top talent or develop talent from within an organisation.

Dan Satterthwaite (pictured), head of HR, DreamWorks, believes providing the right environment not only develops and nurtures talent internally but allows for retaining senior talent longer. 

"It was a commitment we made because keeping people focused on creative work and keeping them focused on innovation inherently requires them to take risks," he said.

"In an environment where people are fearful, they will not taking risks, and we just cannot afford to let the creativity or innovation that drives this entire company in any way be affected by the uncertainty and fear that the outside world has created over the past 18 months."

Organisations, he added, need to ensure their employees develop and implement the current skills and competencies required to execute the company's business strategy today and into the future. A quality employee-training programme is essential to keep staff motivated and a company profitable.

Executives including Satterthwaite, Krystin Mitchell,  senior VP HR at 7-Eleven Stores, Norma Clayton, VP learning, training and development at Boeing, Kim Creighton, VP HR at HardRock Cafe, and Desiree Dancy, chief diversity officer and VP corporate HR at The New York Times Company are set to debate the issue at the HR Summit US in Miami on 14 September.