6 Options for Reducing an Expected Labor Surplus By comparing forecasts for labor supply and demand for specific jobs, planners can ascertain whether there will be a labor surplus or a labor shortage for certain job categories. The second step in human resource planning is to define specific goals regarding a desired end and provide benchmarks for determining the relative success of a program aimed at addressing labor surpluses or shortages. There are a number of strategies for addressing the issue of a labor surplus that vary according to expense, speed, effectiveness, amount of human suffering, and irrevocability. There should be a specific timetable for achieving goals. Unpaidice Move the cursor over each box to read the description. Then drag each item to its appropriate position on the chart that corresponds to the speed and amount of human suffering associated with that option for reducing an expected labor surplus Transfer Work sharing Human Suffering Speed Drop Category High Fast Workforce reduction Hiring freeze Moderate Fast Work sharing Transfer Retirement Unpaid leave Low Slow Hiring freeze Reset