White collar workers wanted

Demand is rising for professionals and white collar workers as businesses look to ramp up executive staff numbers.

According to the Michael Page Employment Index, 29 per cent of companies intend to increase their white collar headcount in March, 65 per cent foresee no changes while 6 per cent expect to make cuts.
 
The research showed that more than two thirds of the jobs being added were full-time, 15 per cent were contract roles and 2 per cent were part-time.
 
The improved figures follow expert predictions that any recovery of the permanent employment market would come at least six to nine months after the contract market had started to improve.
 
The Olivier Job Index and a number of recruiters flagged an initial pick up of the temporary job market at the start of the current financial year, July 2009.
 
Key findings from the MPEI revealed operation roles, those in sales, purchasing, supply chain, production to be most in demand as well as junior level workers and mid-level manager.

 
Of the companies maintaining their headcount 37 per cent said they expected to start recruiting more employees within the next six to 12 months and 27 per cent within 12 to 18 months.
 
The MPEI surveyed the hiring intentions of more than 200 human resources executives and hiring managers.