By Anita Campbell on HR

Using non-profit employment-related organizations in your community can be a low-cost way to hire and train employees, and even provide benefits for them.

The Hitachi Foundation has issued “A Pocket Guide for Business Leaders.” This is a PDF report that outlines why and where to set up strategic alliances with local non-profits where you can find a source of new employees, get training for employees, and get access to subsidized benefit programs:

One of the toughest management challenges for businesses is finding and keeping productive employees. This can be particularly difficult for small- and mid-sized firms with limited human resources management (HR) capabilities. Business-nonprofit partnerships are a means to addressing business needs such as this one.

Businesses in all industries face challenges in finding, training, and retaining the right workers with the right skills. The cost of the resulting turnover is a real drain on productivity and profits.

On the other hand, the seemingly non-stop economic churn is producing a constantly renewed supply of experienced and talented workers ready to meet your needs. Nonprofits are often on the frontline of this churn, providing critical training, placement, and support services to job seekers of all capabilities and with all types of experience.

As the Guide points out there is a lot of economic churn in our society. Translation: people get laid off from jobs. Devastating for those involved — to be sure — yet at the same time there can be a silver lining if your company learns about these out-of-work individuals and hires them. Often these individuals will be excited to work at a smaller business, especially if you can offer them flexible working conditions. It’s an added plus for your business if you can use non-profit (i.e., low cost) sources in your local community to help find this qualified talent, train them and provide benefits for them.

Also read for background: Small Business Employment Trends for 2007.