Employment figures are biting back in the lead up to the new year with employment rising to pre GFC levels, with part time employees set to save employers’ bacon in 2011.
Recent major studies released by both MyCareer and Hudson Australia/New Zealand show strong demand for new employees across most industries as we head towards the end of this calendar year. With over a third of employers looking to increase their permanent staff levels on last quarters’ figures skills shortages are set to again cause problems for businesses looking for skilled employees.
Kate Webster from Priorities – Flexible Employment Strategies says, “Last time our employment figures were this high, clever employers realised that part time employees were often the most effective way to fill staffing vacancies. As the market tightens we are already seeing the same patterns occurring with our clients seeking part timers in preference to lower skilled full timers.”
Many employers who laid off st aff last year are having trouble attracting quality staff to return. The financial services sector has been particularly hard hit and has found it difficult to tempt employees back into the field. The most interesting fact to emerge is that overall there are now 15% less women and 2% more men employed in this sector than prior to the Credit Crunch. This further reduces the number of skilled potential employees available for this sector and some employers are already being forced to look off-shore.
Kate points out that part time solutions to these supply and demand problems in the workforce can often tempt people back into roles that have traditionally been seen as full time, “offer a mum returning to work a role during school hours with a little flexibility and they will usually stay with you for years” says Kate, and it’s no longer “just Mums” who want flexibility, mature workers looking for some balance and Gen Ys who want to balance out their own s mall businesses with a steady pay check are also looking for part time. Employers will reap the rewards from an expanded pool of candidates if they can see beyond traditional employment models and implement flexibility in the workplace.
