Employers do not describe employees as 'talent'

Nearly 70%  of respondents to the survey, by Harris Interactive, say talent is not an expression used. Asked if they think their employers see them as talented individuals, 42% of workers say no and a further 23% are not sure. Just 16% say yes, but only as a means to an end - so employers can get more work out of them.

A mere 11% say they are personally regarded as 'the future' of their organisation, with nearly half (48%) saying 'no, not at all' to this question. Some 55% of the 1,187 employees polled say that, to their knowledge, their skills are not recorded on any talent management system.

Women are significantly more likely than men to say their organisation uses the word talent (75% vs 63%). They are also more likely to say they are not regarded as the future in their organisation (50% vs 47%).