Workforce planning is the process of anticipating an organization’s future personnel needs and developing a strategy to optimize the use of people-power in order to meet those needs. It’s an essential part of any successful business, ensuring that the right skills, competencies, and diversity are present within the company at all times to meet its objectives. Through workforce planning, businesses can develop a long-term plan for the employment, development, and utilization of staff. Using data regarding current staffing levels and workforce trends, organizations can identify areas where increased numbers or alternative expertise might be needed in order to maintain competitiveness and meet goals. This approach also allows employers to ensure that their talent pool is as diverse and equitable as possible.