Job-Jumpers Might Lose Out

A common thread across all sectors included in the Hays Quarterly Forecast was the preference for candidates with a stable resume; according to Hays, employers view with caution a job applicant with two years or less tenure with several companies.

"Many employers have invested time and resources in training new staff only to see them resign one year later to chase a higher salary elsewhere," said Jane McNeill, senior regional director of Hays in Perth. "With a shortage of skills, retention is a focus for employers and they value those candidates with demonstrated long-term tenure on their CV.

"With vacancy activity high, candidates are able to focus on their long-term goals and look for opportunities that will develop their career in the direction they wish to pursue. Yet some candidates instead chase short-term gains in the form of slight salary increases elsewhere. Employers prefer to wait for a stable candidate than risk employing someone to lose them a short time later," she said.

In other trends, the Hays Quarterly Forecast reveals vacancy activity remains very high, driven in particular by newly created roles in light of the ongoing strength of the economy. This is placing pressure on an already candidate-tight market, particularly in the following hotspot areas of strongest demand:

Accounting Jobs: Accounts payable and accounts receivable processing candidates, financial accountants with IFRS experience and ASX exposure, management accountants and newly qualified candidates are required.

The accounting profession: The greatest professional practice hotspot exists within audit, where there is notable buoyancy created by an increase in experienced candidates moving between firms.

Architecture: The major shortage in both the building and architecture industry is for draftspeople. With many house builders remaining extremely busy, there is a severe strain in the industry for this specialist skill. Landscape architects are also in demand at all levels.

Banking: With the housing market active, annual mid-year pressures have created hotspots in mortgage processing, particularly in settlements, securities, documentation and verification. Mortgage credit assessment, particularly for non-standard loans, is another area of demand.

Construction: Contract administrators are the main hotspot of construction demand. Their responsibilities in tender and contract documentation, vetting the contracts, negotiating and liaising with sub contractors and processing invoices and progress claims are vital, yet there is a severe shortage of experienced candidates. Project managers with demonstrated experience and a good track record are also required.

Engineering Jobs: Structural engineers with between three and five years experience and designers with 12D skills and between two to 10 years experience are the major hotspots. Experienced traffic engineers are also in reasonable demand.

Facilities Management: A shortage of office space in CBD locations has created a focus on updating existing properties, which is fuelling demand for project managers, especially in the HVAC discipline. Meanwhile the demand for trade qualified facilities mangers at the $55,000 level remains.

Human Resources: The hotspot for immediately available and highly skilled contractors remains and spans generalist HR and specialist areas such as organisational development and learning & development. Growth continues within remuneration and benefits, in-house recruitment, HRIS and capability development.

Information Technology: Web developers with JAVA related technologies such as in Eclipse and WebSphere environments are a hotspot due to steady and consistent demand from employers, vendors and consultancies. A recent hotspot has emerged for reporting analysts skilled in Excel Access and SQL with a strong IT focus.

Legal: Banking and finance, construction and major projects lawyers are required due to the drainage of talent overseas. These candidates can receive significant salary incentives overseas and experience in an overseas market is valued.

Logistics: Merger and acquisition activity in the corporate environment and a desire to improve processes whilst reducing costs has created a hotspot for analyst candidates at the $75,000 level in various industries throughout T&L, including retail, 3PL, FMCG and manufacturing.

Manufacturing & Ops: Production supervision and management, maintenance supervision, lean manufacturing engineers and mechanical design candidates are the major hotspots.

Office Support: Permanent receptionists at the $30,000 to $35,000 level are required. The average tenure of a receptionist remains one year as candidates continue to seek career advancement opportunities outside the reception function and tackle new challenges.

Procurement: Category managers with experience in indirect category management are in demand as companies continue to look at budgets in these areas.

Property: An increase in development activity has created a hotspot for project managers while commercial and industrial sales and leasing executives are required due to solid economic activity increasing demand for sites. Commercial valuation candidates are another area of demand.

Sales & Marketing: Space planners and category analysts are in high demand due to an increase in consumer spend which demands key product positioning while continuing brand consolidation is driving pressure from private label brands in the consumer sector. Marketing communications professionals are also a hotspot.

In addition to the hotspots of demand, the Hays Quarterly Forecast contains information by sector regarding recruitment activity over the coming quarter, executive activity, candidate trends and salary movements. It is available at www.hays.com.au/forecast/