Talent Glossary

This glossary defines common terms that you might see as you're browsing Refetrust, or throughout our Help Center.

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Casting Services

Casting Services refer to the process of selecting and hiring actors, models, voice-over artists, or performers for roles in film, television, commercials, theater, or other media productions. Casting services involve identifying talent that fits the requirements of the project, conducting auditions, negotiating contracts, and managing the hiring process. These services are essential for finding the right individuals who bring characters, concepts, or brands to life.

Key Elements of Casting Services

1. Talent Search

Casting directors or agencies conduct talent searches to identify individuals who meet the project’s requirements, such as appearance, skills, experience, and personality.

2. Auditions

Auditions involve evaluating potential candidates by asking them to perform specific scenes, dialogues, or actions to assess their suitability for the role.

3. Callbacks

Callbacks are additional auditions where shortlisted candidates are invited to perform again, allowing casting directors to further evaluate their abilities and fit for the role.

4. Contract Negotiation

Once the ideal candidate is selected, casting services handle contract negotiations, including payment, schedules, and other terms of employment.

Benefits of Casting Services

1. Access to a Wide Talent Pool

Casting services have access to a diverse talent pool, ensuring that the best candidates are considered for each role or project.

2. Time Efficiency

Casting professionals streamline the process of finding, auditioning, and selecting talent, saving production teams time and effort.

3. Professional Expertise

Casting directors possess the expertise needed to identify talent that aligns with the project’s vision, requirements, and goals.

Challenges of Casting Services

1. Matching Talent to Roles

Finding talent that perfectly matches the project’s requirements can be challenging, requiring extensive auditions and evaluations.

2. Managing Expectations

Ensuring that both the talent and production team are satisfied with the terms of the contract can be a delicate process.

Importance of Casting Services

Casting services are crucial for selecting the right talent that brings a production to life, ensuring that characters, concepts, and brand messages are portrayed effectively.

Creative Talent

Creative Talent refers to individuals who possess the skills, imagination, and artistic ability to create, design, or produce content, such as visual art, music, writing, acting, filmmaking, graphic design, animation, or photography. Creative talent plays a vital role in industries such as advertising, entertainment, media, marketing, and design, bringing unique ideas, concepts, and projects to life. These professionals contribute to the creation of compelling, engaging, and visually appealing content that captures the audience’s attention.

Key Types of Creative Talent

1. Visual Artists

Visual artists create art in various forms, such as painting, drawing, illustration, photography, or graphic design, contributing to projects that require visual creativity.

2. Writers and Copywriters

Writers and copywriters craft engaging content, including articles, scripts, marketing copy, or social media posts, to convey messages, stories, or brand concepts.

3. Performers

Performers, such as actors, dancers, musicians, and voice-over artists, use their creative skills to bring characters, stories, or concepts to life in film, theater, commercials, or music productions.

4. Designers

Designers, including graphic, web, interior, or fashion designers, use their creativity to develop visual concepts, designs, or products that meet client or project requirements.

Benefits of Engaging Creative Talent

1. Innovation and Originality

Creative talent brings fresh ideas, innovative solutions, and unique perspectives to projects, making them more engaging and impactful.

2. Enhanced Branding

Creative professionals help build brand identity, develop marketing materials, and create content that resonates with the target audience.

3. High-Quality Output

Engaging skilled creative talent ensures that projects are executed professionally, resulting in high-quality, polished, and visually appealing content.

Challenges of Managing Creative Talent

1. Collaboration and Communication

Effective collaboration and communication are essential to ensure that creative talent understands the project’s vision and requirements.

2. Balancing Creativity and Structure

Creative professionals need the freedom to express their ideas while adhering to project guidelines, deadlines, and expectations.

Importance of Creative Talent

Creative talent is essential for bringing ideas, concepts, and projects to life in visually appealing, engaging, and innovative ways. It plays a vital role in building brand identity, producing high-quality content, and capturing the audience’s attention across various industries.

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Entertainment Talent Management

Entertainment Talent Management refers to the practice of representing and managing individuals in the entertainment industry, such as actors, musicians, comedians, writers, and other performers. Talent managers are responsible for guiding their clients’ careers, negotiating contracts, securing opportunities, and helping them navigate the complexities of the entertainment world. Entertainment talent management is a crucial part of an artist’s career, ensuring that they have the support needed to maximize their potential and succeed in the highly competitive entertainment industry.

Key Responsibilities of Talent Managers

1. Career Development and Strategy

One of the primary responsibilities of a talent manager is helping clients develop and execute a long-term career strategy. This involves identifying the client’s strengths and marketability, selecting the right opportunities, and creating a plan that aligns with their career goals. Talent managers advise clients on the types of roles, projects, or collaborations they should pursue, whether it’s choosing between acting in films, releasing music, or performing live shows.

2. Contract Negotiation

Talent managers are skilled negotiators who secure favorable contracts for their clients. They work with agents, studios, record labels, and production companies to ensure that their clients receive fair compensation and favorable terms. This includes negotiating fees, royalties, residuals, and other contractual provisions such as creative control, billing, and performance requirements.

3. Securing Opportunities

Talent managers actively seek out opportunities for their clients. This can include booking auditions, gigs, performances, endorsements, and other professional opportunities that align with the client’s career trajectory. Managers leverage their industry contacts and knowledge to open doors for their clients, ensuring they have access to the best possible projects and roles.

4. Brand Building and Image Management

In the entertainment industry, personal branding and public image are critical components of success. Talent managers help clients build and maintain a consistent, marketable image. This includes advising on public appearances, interviews, social media presence, and media relations. Managers ensure that their clients are presented in a way that enhances their reputation and aligns with their professional goals.

5. Crisis Management

In the event of a public relations crisis or personal issue that could impact a client’s career, talent managers play a key role in mitigating the damage. They work closely with PR teams and legal advisors to handle media inquiries, issue public statements, and manage the situation to protect the client’s career and personal reputation.

The Entertainment Talent Management Process

1. Talent Discovery and Signing

Talent managers often discover new clients through auditions, industry networking, or talent scouting. After identifying potential clients, managers may offer a representation agreement, outlining the terms of the working relationship. The agreement typically covers the manager’s responsibilities, commission rates, and the duration of the contract.

2. Building a Team

A talent manager usually works with a larger team that may include agents, publicists, lawyers, and business managers. While the talent manager oversees the client’s overall career development, agents focus on securing specific deals, such as film roles or record deals. Publicists manage media relations, and lawyers handle legal matters like contract review and intellectual property issues.

3. Networking and Industry Relationships

Talent managers rely heavily on industry relationships to advance their clients’ careers. They regularly network with casting directors, producers, music executives, booking agents, and brand representatives to create opportunities for their clients. These relationships help managers stay informed about industry trends, upcoming projects, and new opportunities.

4. Managing Client Finances and Contracts

Talent managers often oversee their clients’ financial matters, including budgeting, tax planning, and long-term financial management. They ensure that clients are compensated for their work according to their contracts and may also advise on investment opportunities or ways to diversify income streams.

Benefits of Entertainment Talent Management

1. Career Guidance and Mentorship

Talent managers offer invaluable guidance and mentorship throughout their clients’ careers. They provide objective, experienced advice on career decisions, helping clients navigate the entertainment industry’s challenges and opportunities.

2. Time and Resource Management

By handling the day-to-day aspects of a client’s career—such as scheduling meetings, negotiating contracts, and managing publicity—talent managers free up their clients to focus on their craft. This allows performers to dedicate more time to improving their skills and working on creative projects.

3. Access to Industry Opportunities

Talent managers have the connections and industry knowledge necessary to help clients access high-profile projects and roles. By leveraging these relationships, managers can open doors that might otherwise remain closed to their clients, increasing their visibility and opportunities.

Challenges in Entertainment Talent Management

1. Managing Client Expectations

One of the biggest challenges for talent managers is managing client expectations. The entertainment industry is highly competitive, and not all clients will achieve stardom immediately, if at all. Talent managers must provide realistic advice while motivating clients to stay focused on long-term goals.

2. Balancing Multiple Clients

Talent managers often represent multiple clients simultaneously, which can be a logistical challenge. Managers must balance the needs of each client while ensuring that none feel overlooked. Effective communication, organization, and time management are critical skills for success in talent management.

3. Navigating Industry Changes

The entertainment industry is constantly evolving, with new technologies, platforms, and trends emerging regularly. Talent managers must stay up to date with industry changes, such as the rise of streaming platforms, social media influencers, and digital content creators, to ensure their clients remain relevant.

Importance of Entertainment Talent Management

Entertainment talent management is crucial for artists and performers who want to build long-term, successful careers in the entertainment industry. Talent managers provide the strategic guidance, industry connections, and business acumen necessary to navigate the complexities of the entertainment world. By offering support in everything from contract negotiation to branding and public relations, talent managers help clients maximize their opportunities and ensure they are positioned for lasting success. Without effective talent management, many artists would struggle to secure opportunities, negotiate favorable terms, and build a sustainable career.

Entertainment Talent Management

Entertainment Talent Management is the process of representing, guiding, and promoting artists, performers, actors, musicians, models, and other creative talents in the entertainment industry. Talent managers work closely with their clients to help them achieve career goals, negotiate contracts, secure gigs or roles, handle public relations, and develop their brand. The goal of entertainment talent management is to build a successful career for the talent by providing strategic guidance, opportunities, and industry connections.

Key Responsibilities in Entertainment Talent Management

1. Career Development

Talent managers help clients develop their careers by identifying opportunities, creating career plans, and advising on decisions that align with their long-term goals.

2. Contract Negotiation

Managers negotiate contracts on behalf of their clients, ensuring that terms are fair, legally sound, and financially beneficial. This includes negotiating fees, royalties, licensing rights, and other contractual obligations.

3. Branding and Marketing

Entertainment talent management involves building and promoting the talent’s brand through social media, public appearances, press releases, and marketing campaigns to increase visibility and fan engagement.

4. Networking and Opportunities

Talent managers use their industry connections to secure auditions, gigs, endorsements, or collaborations that help advance their clients’ careers.

Benefits of Entertainment Talent Management

1. Industry Expertise

Talent managers have in-depth knowledge of the entertainment industry, providing valuable insights, guidance, and connections that help clients navigate their careers.

2. Professional Representation

Having a talent manager ensures that clients are professionally represented in negotiations, auditions, and public relations, helping them secure better opportunities and deals.

3. Time Management

Talent managers handle administrative tasks, bookings, and scheduling, allowing clients to focus on their creative work.

Challenges of Entertainment Talent Management

1. Competitive Industry

The entertainment industry is highly competitive, making it challenging to secure opportunities, roles, or endorsements for clients.

2. Balancing Multiple Clients

Managing multiple clients with different needs and career goals requires effective time management, organization, and communication.

Importance of Entertainment Talent Management

Entertainment talent management is essential for artists and performers seeking professional guidance, representation, and career development. It provides the support and expertise needed to navigate the complexities of the entertainment industry.

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Freelance Talent

Freelance Talent refers to individuals who offer their skills, services, and expertise on a project-by-project or contract basis, rather than being employed full-time by a single organization. Freelancers work independently across various industries, such as writing, graphic design, web development, marketing, consulting, and photography. They are hired for specific projects, tasks, or assignments, providing businesses with flexible access to skilled professionals without long-term employment commitments.

Key Characteristics of Freelance Talent

1. Independence

Freelancers operate as independent contractors, managing their own schedules, clients, and workloads. They have the freedom to choose projects that align with their skills and interests.

2. Diverse Skill Sets

Freelance talent offers a wide range of skills and expertise, allowing businesses to access specialized services for various projects, such as content creation, design, marketing, or technical support.

3. Flexibility

Freelancers provide flexible services, making them ideal for short-term projects, seasonal work, or tasks that require specialized skills on an as-needed basis.

Benefits of Hiring Freelance Talent

1. Cost Savings

Hiring freelance talent is often more cost-effective than employing full-time staff, as businesses pay only for the specific project or hours worked, without additional overhead costs.

2. Access to Expertise

Freelancers bring specialized skills and experience, allowing businesses to access top talent for specific projects or tasks.

3. Quick Turnaround

Freelancers can be hired quickly and start working on projects immediately, reducing the time required to complete tasks.

Challenges of Working with Freelance Talent

1. Inconsistent Availability

Freelancers may not always be available for ongoing work, requiring businesses to find new talent for future projects.

2. Managing Remote Workers

Coordinating and communicating with freelance talent can be challenging, especially when working remotely or across different time zones.

Importance of Freelance Talent

Freelance talent is essential for businesses seeking flexible, cost-effective, and specialized expertise for short-term projects or tasks. It provides access to a diverse pool of skilled professionals who can contribute to a variety of business needs.

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Influencer Talent

Influencer Talent refers to individuals with a strong online presence, large social media following, or expertise in a specific niche who have the ability to influence the opinions, behaviors, and purchasing decisions of their audience. Influencer talent is often engaged by brands, businesses, or marketers to promote products, services, or campaigns through social media platforms, blogs, videos, podcasts, or other digital channels. They play a significant role in digital marketing, helping brands reach a wider audience and build credibility.

Types of Influencer Talent

1. Mega-Influencers

Mega-influencers have millions of followers on social media and are often celebrities, public figures, or well-known personalities. They have a broad reach and are ideal for large-scale brand awareness campaigns.

2. Macro-Influencers

Macro-influencers have a sizable following (typically between 100,000 to 1 million followers) and are known for their expertise in a specific niche. They offer a balance between reach and engagement.

3. Micro-Influencers

Micro-influencers have a smaller, but highly engaged following (typically between 1,000 to 100,000 followers) and are considered experts in their niche. They are ideal for targeted campaigns and building authentic connections.

Benefits of Engaging Influencer Talent

1. Increased Brand Awareness

Influencers can introduce brands to a wider audience, helping build brand recognition and reach new customers.

2. Authentic Engagement

Influencer talent creates authentic, relatable content that resonates with their followers, leading to higher engagement and trust.

3. Cost-Effective Marketing

Influencer marketing can be more cost-effective than traditional advertising, especially when working with micro or macro-influencers.

Challenges of Working with Influencer Talent

1. Ensuring Authenticity

Maintaining authenticity and transparency is crucial, as audiences are quick to detect insincere or overly promotional content.

2. Measuring ROI

Tracking the impact and return on investment (ROI) of influencer campaigns can be challenging, requiring the use of analytics tools and metrics.

Importance of Influencer Talent

Influencer talent is essential for brands looking to reach new audiences, build credibility, and create authentic connections with potential customers. It plays a significant role in modern digital marketing strategies.

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Performance Management

Performance Management is a continuous process of assessing, monitoring, and improving employee performance to ensure that individual goals align with the organization’s objectives. It involves setting clear expectations, providing regular feedback, conducting performance evaluations, and offering support, training, and development opportunities. Performance management aims to enhance productivity, foster employee growth, and drive organizational success by creating a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Key Components of Performance Management

1. Goal Setting

Setting clear, measurable, and achievable goals helps employees understand their responsibilities and what is expected of them. Goals should align with the organization’s strategic objectives.

2. Regular Feedback

Providing ongoing feedback allows employees to understand their strengths, identify areas for improvement, and make necessary adjustments to achieve their goals.

3. Performance Appraisals

Performance appraisals involve evaluating employee performance against established goals, competencies, and job expectations. This process helps identify achievements, challenges, and opportunities for development.

4. Training and Development

Offering training and development opportunities supports employee growth, enhances skills, and helps employees reach their full potential.

Benefits of Performance Management

1. Improved Productivity

Effective performance management helps employees stay focused, motivated, and engaged, leading to increased productivity and performance.

2. Enhanced Employee Development

Performance management provides employees with opportunities for growth, skill development, and career advancement.

3. Alignment with Organizational Goals

By setting clear goals and expectations, performance management ensures that individual efforts contribute to the organization’s success.

Challenges of Performance Management

1. Inconsistent Feedback

Providing consistent and constructive feedback can be challenging, especially for managers overseeing multiple employees.

2. Resistance to Evaluation

Employees may feel anxious or resistant to performance evaluations, requiring managers to approach the process with empathy and transparency.

Importance of Performance Management

Performance management is essential for fostering a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and employee development. It helps organizations achieve their goals by ensuring that employees perform at their best and contribute to overall success.

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Talent Development

Talent Development is the process of nurturing, training, and enhancing the skills, competencies, and potential of employees to support their professional growth and align their abilities with the organization’s goals. Talent development involves creating opportunities for learning, skill-building, career advancement, and leadership development. It plays a crucial role in building a high-performing workforce, improving employee engagement, and ensuring that the organization has the right talent to achieve its strategic objectives.

Key Components of Talent Development

1. Training and Skill Development

Talent development includes providing employees with training programs, workshops, and online courses to enhance their technical, soft, and leadership skills. This helps them excel in their current roles and prepare for future responsibilities.

2. Career Pathing and Planning

Career pathing involves creating clear career progression plans that outline the steps employees can take to achieve their career goals within the organization. It provides a roadmap for career advancement and helps retain top talent.

3. Coaching and Mentoring

Coaching and mentoring programs pair employees with experienced professionals who provide guidance, support, and feedback to help them develop their skills, build confidence, and reach their potential.

4. Leadership Development

Leadership development focuses on identifying high-potential employees and providing them with the training, experiences, and opportunities needed to develop their leadership skills and prepare for future leadership roles.

Benefits of Talent Development

1. Enhanced Employee Performance

Talent development improves employee skills, knowledge, and competencies, leading to increased productivity, efficiency, and job performance.

2. Increased Employee Engagement and Retention

Offering development opportunities fosters a sense of growth, purpose, and loyalty, leading to higher employee engagement and retention rates.

3. Building a Strong Talent Pipeline

Talent development helps organizations identify and prepare future leaders, ensuring a continuous pipeline of skilled talent ready to fill critical roles.

Challenges of Talent Development

1. Limited Resources

Providing consistent and high-quality talent development opportunities requires time, financial investment, and resources, which may be challenging for smaller organizations.

2. Measuring Impact

Evaluating the effectiveness of talent development programs can be difficult, requiring ongoing assessment and feedback.

Importance of Talent Development

Talent development is essential for building a skilled, motivated, and high-performing workforce. It supports employee growth, enhances job performance, and helps organizations achieve their goals by ensuring they have the right talent in place.

Talent Outsourcing

Talent Outsourcing is the practice of hiring external professionals or agencies to manage specific tasks, projects, or functions on behalf of an organization. It involves leveraging the skills, expertise, and resources of external talent to fulfill roles that may be temporary, specialized, or outside the core competencies of the organization. Talent outsourcing provides flexibility, access to a broader talent pool, and cost savings, making it a popular solution for organizations looking to meet their staffing needs efficiently.

Key Forms of Talent Outsourcing

1. Staff Augmentation

Staff augmentation involves hiring external talent to work alongside in-house teams on a temporary or project basis. It provides additional skills and resources to meet short-term or seasonal demands.

2. Project-Based Outsourcing

Project-based outsourcing involves contracting external talent to complete a specific project or task, such as software development, marketing campaigns, or graphic design, allowing organizations to focus on core activities.

3. Managed Services

Managed services involve outsourcing entire functions, such as IT support, HR, or accounting, to an external provider who manages the function on behalf of the organization.

Benefits of Talent Outsourcing

1. Cost Savings

Talent outsourcing reduces the costs associated with recruiting, hiring, training, and providing benefits to full-time employees, allowing organizations to access skilled talent at a lower cost.

2. Access to Specialized Skills

Outsourcing provides access to external professionals with specialized skills and expertise, enabling organizations to complete tasks or projects that require niche knowledge.

3. Flexibility and Scalability

Talent outsourcing offers flexibility, allowing organizations to scale their workforce up or down based on project requirements or business demands.

Challenges of Talent Outsourcing

1. Quality Control

Ensuring consistent quality and performance from outsourced talent can be challenging, requiring clear communication and expectations.

2. Data Security and Confidentiality

Outsourcing sensitive tasks or projects requires strict data security measures to protect confidential information.

Importance of Talent Outsourcing

Talent outsourcing is essential for organizations seeking flexibility, cost savings, and access to specialized skills. It provides a practical solution for meeting staffing needs, managing projects, and achieving business goals.

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Voice Talent

Voice Talent refers to individuals who use their vocal skills to perform voice-over work for various media, such as commercials, animations, video games, audiobooks, podcasts, e-learning modules, and telephone systems. Voice talent artists have the ability to modulate their voice, express emotions, and convey messages in a way that engages listeners and enhances the content. They play a crucial role in delivering narratives, creating character voices, and promoting brands or products through their vocal performances.

Key Roles of Voice Talent

1. Commercial Voice-Overs

Voice talent artists perform voice-overs for radio, television, and online commercials, using their vocal skills to convey brand messages, promotions, or product information in an engaging and persuasive manner.

2. Animation and Character Voices

Voice talent artists bring animated characters to life by providing unique voices, accents, and expressions that match the personality and emotions of the character.

3. Narration

Voice talent is often used for narration in documentaries, audiobooks, e-learning courses, or corporate videos, where the artist’s voice guides the listener through the content.

4. Dubbing and Localization

Voice talent artists provide dubbing services for foreign films, TV shows, or video games, translating and adapting the content to different languages while maintaining the original intent and tone.

Benefits of Hiring Voice Talent

1. Professional Quality

Hiring professional voice talent ensures high-quality recordings, clear articulation, and engaging delivery that enhances the overall production.

2. Versatility and Flexibility

Voice talent artists can adapt their vocal style, tone, and delivery to suit various projects, making them versatile and suitable for a wide range of media.

3. Effective Communication

Voice talent adds emotion, personality, and authenticity to content, making it more relatable and effective in communicating messages to the audience.

Challenges of Working with Voice Talent

1. Finding the Right Voice

Finding a voice talent artist who matches the project’s requirements, tone, and style can be challenging and may require multiple auditions.

2. Managing Costs

High-quality voice talent services can be costly, especially for large-scale projects or experienced artists.

Importance of Voice Talent

Voice talent is essential for enhancing the quality and impact of audio and visual content. It adds professionalism, emotion, and authenticity to media projects, making them more engaging and effective in delivering messages to the audience.

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Workforce Management

Workforce Management (WFM) is the process of optimizing the productivity, efficiency, and performance of an organization’s workforce by effectively scheduling, monitoring, and managing employees’ time, tasks, and activities. Workforce management involves planning, forecasting, staffing, time tracking, and performance analysis to ensure that the right number of employees with the right skills are available to meet business demands. WFM plays a critical role in improving operational efficiency, reducing labor costs, and enhancing employee engagement.

Key Components of Workforce Management

1. Forecasting and Scheduling

Workforce management involves predicting future staffing needs based on historical data, business trends, and seasonal fluctuations. Accurate forecasting allows managers to create effective schedules that align with workload demands.

2. Time and Attendance Tracking

WFM includes tracking employee attendance, working hours, breaks, and overtime to ensure compliance with labor laws, reduce time theft, and improve payroll accuracy.

3. Performance Monitoring

Workforce management involves monitoring employee performance, productivity, and adherence to schedules, allowing managers to identify areas for improvement and provide feedback.

4. Compliance Management

WFM ensures that the organization complies with labor laws, regulations, and company policies related to working hours, breaks, and overtime.

Benefits of Workforce Management

1. Increased Productivity

Effective workforce management ensures that the right number of employees with the necessary skills are available when needed, leading to increased productivity and efficiency.

2. Cost Savings

WFM helps reduce labor costs by optimizing staffing levels, minimizing overtime, and preventing overstaffing or understaffing.

3. Improved Employee Engagement

By providing fair schedules, accurate time tracking, and performance feedback, workforce management enhances employee satisfaction and engagement.

Challenges of Workforce Management

1. Managing a Diverse Workforce

Managing a diverse workforce with varying schedules, skills, and preferences can be challenging and requires flexible WFM solutions.

2. Adapting to Changing Demands

Fluctuating business demands, seasonal changes, or unexpected events require dynamic workforce management strategies to adapt quickly.

Importance of Workforce Management

Workforce management is essential for optimizing employee productivity, reducing labor costs, and ensuring compliance with labor laws. It provides the tools and strategies needed to create an efficient, engaged, and high-performing workforce.

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