New year ripe for change of job
Skilled employees looking around for a change of scene have picked a good year to do it.
Nearly 80 per cent of professionals are confident about their prospects and probably actively keeping tabs on the job market, according to an annual salary survey by recruitment firm Robert Walters.
Those in the infrastructure, technology and large-scale retail sectors are likely to be most in luck, as sectors which are expected to be the biggest job creators in the main centres.
Shay Peters, Robert Walters’ New Zealand director, said businesses here would struggle to grow to their full potential if highly skilled candidates were not actively recruited back into the market.
‘‘Kiwi companies are going to have to really tailor their pitch to entice expats back here. They’ll have to upsell the lifestyle balance that New Zealand offers and be prepared to offer salaries in line with those in the UK, US and Asia.’’
Fortunately, the fallout from Brexit and perceived instability in the United States was making New Zealand an increasingly attractive option for returning Kiwis, Peters said.
Many professionals were now in powerful bargaining positions, and Peters said there would be a lot of pressure on pay.
Salaries rose for nearly 60 per cent of professionals last year and nearly threequarters of them were expecting a financial boost this year.
But the survey showed that career progression mattered most to professionals thinking of leaving, with 32 per cent of them citing this reason.
Many jobseekers or workers were open to staying with their current employer, if they could become more ‘‘marketable’’, Peters said. ‘‘Job security is definitely something that employees are taking more seriously now.’’
Other perks that could be considered to retain staff included flexible working conditions, and health and wellbeing programmes.
Civil engineers, construction workers, and procurement, legal and finance professionals are all expected to be in demand, while telecommunication companies, banks, and utilities are in the middle of digital transformations.
The IT sector in particular would face ‘‘intense competition’’ for workers with skills in specialist areas.