Flurry of recruiting activity for the New Year

PRESS RELEASE
8 July 2010
Flurry of recruiting activity for the New Financial Year

New Zealand’s job market will experience a flurry of recruiting activity in the New Financial Year, according to recruiting experts Hays.

“The New Financial Year signals a fresh chapter for the local jobs market,” says Jason Walker, Managing Director of Hays in New Zealand. “A renewed enthusiasm to recruit is steadily bringing stability and fresh optimism to the market. Meanwhile employers realise they are understaffed, after downsizing during the downturn to a point where they no longer have sufficient headcount to take advantage of recovering market conditions.

“A fresh budget provides the means to strengthen teams where necessary to add value and allow the business to grow. In other cases, headcount freezes are continuing to be lifted after strong recoveries over the last 18 months.

“A New Financial Year is also a popular time for businesses to gain or lose key contracts. With this comes a lot of activity in terms of staff needing to be re-deployed or recruited.

“In addition, rising vacancy activity naturally leads to a spike in candidate interest, particularly from those quality passive candidates that keep an eye on the market. So we expect a rise in the number of candidates leaving their secure roles in search of a new and exciting opportunity.

“Unless employers have communicated career development plans clearly, employees are likely to question their future and begin to explore the rising number of opportunities on the market. For employers with a strong talent pool, this means you need to do everything you can to retain your team before they seek or attract interest from outside the business,” he said.

According to the July – September Hays Quarterly Report, employers will be looking to recruit the following skills in the first quarter of this New Financial Year:
• Accountancy & Finance: Demand is high within New Zealand for solid Payroll candidates. High-quality part-qualified Assistant Accountants are also sought as a key element in succession planning. Newly qualified Financial and Management Accountants are needed as more candidates at this level commence their OE, as are Financial and Business Analysts with specific industry/sector expertise. Within the profession, demand is high for qualified accountants across Audit, Business Advisory Services and Tax.
• Construction: Quantity Surveyors with over three years experience are sought in response to increased tender activity.
• Contact Centres: Demand for Customer Service and Telesales staff is rising, while the need for Collections specialists and Account Managers for customer retention purposes also remains strong.
• Energy: Investment into the existing network and Government funding for the roll-out of the new broadband has created demand for Line Mechanics, Cable Jointers, Glove and Barrier Mechanics, HV Electrical Fitters, Supervisors and Distribution Managers. PILON cable layers for fibre optic broadband are also in demand.
• Engineering: Structural Engineers with client facing and business development skills are in high demand. Transportation Planners and Traffic Engineers are also needed for a number of engineering consultancies. Local infrastructure work and an increase in demand for irrigation and hydro power projects have created a need for Civil Engineers and Water Resource Engineers.
• Information Technology: Development skills, primarily in the .Net space, Project Managers, Business Analysts and Architecture candidates are areas of demand given increased project spend and new project commencement.
• Legal: In private practice, solicitors with between three and four years PQE in general commercial law or with specialist energy sector experience are needed. For in-house roles, litigators with experience representing clients in court will have opportunities to develop their skills as legal budgets tighten. Roles in the public sector for lawyers are beginning to open up.
• Office Support: Project candidates, Personal Assistants, Executive Assistants and Administrators are needed as businesses recommence projects put on hold during the downturn. Sales and HR professionals are also needed to help support growth. Demand remains high for Office Managers who can take on a range of duties.
• Property: Client-side Project Managers are sought in response to the announcement of a number of upcoming public sector projects. Valuers are also needed, although there is a shortage of senior candidates in New Zealand.
• Hays Resources & Mining: The renewal of established mining contracts in the South Island in addition to the general shortage of expertise has created demand at the senior level for Project Managers, Mining/Electrical/Maintenance Engineers and Heavy Diesel Mechanics.

Hays, the world’s leading recruiting experts in qualified, professional and skilled people.

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