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One in five employers optimistic about hiring
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One in five employers optimistic about hiring
23 January 2009:Hudson`s quarterly employer confidence survey has reported the lowest result in its eight-year history, but one employer in every five still intends to increase its permanent headcount.
Hudson Australia/New Zealand CEO Mark Steyn says it is clear that the impact of the global financial crisis is now being felt across every region and every industry in Australia.
The survey of more than 7,200 employers reports that the number intending to increase their permanent headcount this quarter dropped by 10 percentage points (to 23%), while the number looking to cut their staff increased by about the same amount (to 17%). Some 60 per cent of employers plan to keep numbers stable.
This represents an employer confidence figure of net +five per cent - a 20 percentage point reduction from the last quarter and the lowest recorded since the survey began in 2000.
For the first time in over two years, WA is not the most confident state in the country. Its employer sentiment fell by 27 percentage points to net +15 per cent, reflecting the drop in overseas demand for resources.
Confidence in NSW has fallen 22 percentage points to be in the negative (-1%), with 18 per cent of employers planning to increase headcount and 19 per cent planning a reduction.
In Victoria, confidence also fell by 22 percentage points to just +two per cent.
Employer sentiment remains reasonably strong in the ACT (+19%) and Queensland (+18%), according to the survey, despite drops of 11 and 15 percentage points respectively.
The construction, property and engineering sector recorded the largest quarterly decline in employer confidence, down 36 percentage points (a decrease of 50pp compared to Q1 last year).
Within this sector, 26 per cent of employers are optimistic about hiring but 20 per cent are planning staff cuts.
Steyn notes that conditions in this sector are expected to improve with the rollout of federal government infrastructure projects and a predicted rise in residential construction.
The utilities sector is now the most confident about its hiring (up from eighth position last quarter), with a net 29 per cent of employers looking to hire more workers.
Employer confidence also remains high in the resources industry, at 20 per cent, despite being down by 19 percentage points on the previous quarter.
Source:
http://www.recruiterdaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&nav=1&selkey=38595
Hudson Australia/New Zealand CEO Mark Steyn says it is clear that the impact of the global financial crisis is now being felt across every region and every industry in Australia.
The survey of more than 7,200 employers reports that the number intending to increase their permanent headcount this quarter dropped by 10 percentage points (to 23%), while the number looking to cut their staff increased by about the same amount (to 17%). Some 60 per cent of employers plan to keep numbers stable.
This represents an employer confidence figure of net +five per cent - a 20 percentage point reduction from the last quarter and the lowest recorded since the survey began in 2000.
For the first time in over two years, WA is not the most confident state in the country. Its employer sentiment fell by 27 percentage points to net +15 per cent, reflecting the drop in overseas demand for resources.
Confidence in NSW has fallen 22 percentage points to be in the negative (-1%), with 18 per cent of employers planning to increase headcount and 19 per cent planning a reduction.
In Victoria, confidence also fell by 22 percentage points to just +two per cent.
Employer sentiment remains reasonably strong in the ACT (+19%) and Queensland (+18%), according to the survey, despite drops of 11 and 15 percentage points respectively.
The construction, property and engineering sector recorded the largest quarterly decline in employer confidence, down 36 percentage points (a decrease of 50pp compared to Q1 last year).
Within this sector, 26 per cent of employers are optimistic about hiring but 20 per cent are planning staff cuts.
Steyn notes that conditions in this sector are expected to improve with the rollout of federal government infrastructure projects and a predicted rise in residential construction.
The utilities sector is now the most confident about its hiring (up from eighth position last quarter), with a net 29 per cent of employers looking to hire more workers.
Employer confidence also remains high in the resources industry, at 20 per cent, despite being down by 19 percentage points on the previous quarter.
Source:
http://www.recruiterdaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&nav=1&selkey=38595
