Job seekers back in driver’s seat in 2010

Kate Southam, Editor CareerOne.com.au

Job hunters could be back in the driver’s seat next year despite predictions that unemployment will continue to rise until mid-2010, according to one of Australia’s largest recruitment firms.

Hays managing director Nigel Heap has warned employers that their workers are restless and that areas of skills shortage are starting to appear.

“Financial and commercial analysts, estimators, business development managers and technical IT specialists are some examples,” Mr Heap said.

Mr Heap is confident that the job market will stage a turn around in 2010 giving candidates much greater options to move up in their organisation or out to another job.

His list of “hot” issues for 2010 are:

Growth in new jobs

“Employers tell us they sense new optimism in the market. They are thinking of long-term strategies to strengthen their business and this includes planning for recruitment during 2010.”

Restless workers will move

“Following a particularly tough year, we will see a significant increase in the number of employed people changing jobs as their confidence grows,’ Mr Heap said. He said many job shoppers will be ‘passive job seekers’ ““ those in jobs quietly looking out for a new opportunity.”

Return of the skills shortage

“As we emerge from the economic downturn, the challenge for talent will once again rear its head. Already there are shortages of particular skills. Financial and Commercial Analysts, Estimators, Business Development Managers and technical IT specialists are some examples.”

Good and bad employers sorted

“Employees were front-row spectators to their company’s GFC response. During the downturn, the “˜good’ employers maintained their focus on their employees’ career development and staff relations. These companies are well-placed to attract the top talent in 2010.”

Strong temp market will continue

This risk-free solution for clearing backlogs or helping with project work will remain popular with employers during 2010.

Mr Heap said temping or contracting does offer some advantages for candidates too such as a variety of assignments and organisations “while adding skills and experience to your CV.”

Return of candidate bargaining power

“Companies tightened the purse strings in 2009,” Mr Heap said.

Many employers leveraged their sudden power in the job market by raising the bar on what skills and qualifications they wanted as well as hiring talented people on salaries lower than would be the case in the good times.

“As recruiting activity picks up, these changes need to be remedied,” he said.

Employers need to communicate with staff

“The renewed focus on open and honest communication between management and employees is a positive change of 2009 that we hope will remain,” Mr Heap said.

“Employees still want to be reassured that their company is performing. They have become genuinely interested in the senior management team and their decisions.”

Forced career change permanent for some

Mr Heap said that redundancies and the tight labour market meant many people took jobs they wouldn’t normally consider.

He said the feedback from the market is that some workers are embracing a life of less work pressure and “do not intend to return to their old job now the market is picking up and vacancies are again available.” Mr Heap expects this to continue in 2010.

Generation Y still hungry for more

“Prior to the GFC, Generation Y had only known a job market where there was a skills shortage,” Mr Heap.

“The GFC was a reality check for this generation, and they have become more flexible (about the sort of work they will take). We expect to see an increase in turnover rates as this generation of candidates look for a new role to achieve their career development.”