One-third of Asian companies fear they don’t have right staff to meet their goals, poll shows
Most difficult jobs to fill are in accountancy, finance and sales, says recruitment firm, based on survey of 3,000 employers
About one-third of companies in Asia fear they do not have the right people to fulfil their business goals, according to an annual survey from recruitment firm Hays.
The most difficult jobs to fill, particularly from entry to middle management levels, are in accountancy and finance as well as in sales, according to more than 3,000 employers being surveyed, who are worried about skill shortage as the majority of them tend to increase their business this year.
“Many candidates across Asia have itchy feet, so employers will need to take action to keep hard-to-replace talent, as well as develop stronger attraction strategies to maintain a pipeline in areas of shortage,” said Christine Wright, managing director of Hays in Asia.
Hong Kong wage earners to see lower pay rises this year than mainland China counterparts, survey finds
To address the talent drain, the majority of employers would likely hire or sponsor someone from overseas, the survey said, Meanwhile, companies are also considering investing in improving the skills of their current staff.
In Hong Kong, more accounting roles are coming up as banks are driven by increased regulation to hire more permanent accountants, the survey said. Strong demand for permanent hiring is also seen in the construction and property fields, as well as technology industries.
According to the survey, the majority of employers in the city intend to increase salaries between three and six per cent.
As for job hunters, doing research is “critical” to securing a job that offers opportunities for developing new skills, Wright said, as the cautious approach many employers are taking on salaries this year means job seekers must manage their salary expectations and pay more attention to other benefits.
