Hays Office Support
JANUARY - MARCH 2012
Hotspots
In demand this quarter are Project Administrators, Administration Sales Support, Contracts Administrators, Document Controllers, Claims Administrators and Legal Secretaries. This need is being driven by the movement out of Christchurch due to the recent earthquakes and the impending rebuild, Demand for these candidates is expected to continue to increase.
Also sought are good Corporate Services Managers, Service Delivery Managers and Senior Records Advisors to cover internal promotions, maternity leave and New Zealand residents who are leaving the country. There is also increased demand for entry-level Office Receptionists.
We are finding that there is an ongoing shortage of good quality candidates across all of office support.
Overcoming skills shortages
A number of employers are opting to employ a temporary candidate to fill any gaps while they wait for the right permanent candidate. Employers are looking at in-house training and recruiting candidates based on potential to overcome the skills shortage in the market.
Towards the end of the last quarter there was a rush to hire temporary contractors to carry the business over into the New Year.
The coming quarter
Most employers have positive hiring intentions over this quarter while temporary staff are in demand until permanent candidates are acquired. This temporary-to-permanent activity will increase, particularly within the construction sector.
Executive recruitment
We are seeing some executive level hiring in the market for corporate services, service delivery and administration management. Employers are seeking candidates with experience across the whole spectrum of staff, budget, stakeholder and change management, along with leadership skills.
Employer trends
We have noted companies are prepared to wait for the right person, rather than hire based on the need to fill a vacancy. This means many are willing to absorb the workload or use temporary cover in the meantime. Cultural fit is becoming increasingly important in the office support sector considering the key nature of these roles and their integration into the business.
Candidate trends
There is a steady flow of regular candidates in the market. Some are opting to leave New Zealand, but in most cases they are replaced by candidates who are returning home to New Zealand.
It is too soon to measure the effects of the most recent Christchurch earthquakes, however we have received a significant amount of applications from those wishing to relocate from the area. This movement will create further skills shortages in the Christchurch region.
