As employers are settling into the new year, talent management remains a large problem that many companies are facing, says Jason Carney, director of human resources at WorkSmart Systems Inc., a professional employer organization in Indianapolis.

There is still much uncertainty regarding the current economy, especially with the upcoming election; therefore, many employers are unsure of how to handle staffing in 2012. While many business decisions are in a wait-and-see mode based on the economy's performance, this is the time for employers to take an individualized look at what direction their businesses are headed and make decisions from there.

"There are just so many unknowns out there," Carney says. "Do you run out and ramp up recruiting by staffing another 20 percent of the work force in 2012, or do you prepare for reduction of 20 percent? I don't think anybody knows, so you need to take a hard look at where your business is going. It's key for an HR department to get more in tune with its business now than ever."