Hunter above nation for employerl
Hunter above nation for emp oyer con dence confi dence
By MICHAEL BLAXLAND
A HUGE slump in confidence among the Hunter region’s manufacturers has dragged down overall employment expectations
over the next three months.
Recruitment company Hudson, in the report for its latest employment confi dence survey, found that 38.3 per cent of Hunter employers expected to increase their permanent headcount over the next quarter.
This measure of employer confi dence was higher than the national rate, but it was more than 5 percentage points lower than in the previous three months.
Hudson Hunter region general manager
James Tocci said, despite some specialised manufacturing organisations in the region experiencing strong domestic and international demand, the overall manufacturing industry had recorded a massive slump in employer confi dence.
“It has dropped 19.8 percentage points over the quarter to net 35 per cent and, overall, sentiment is down 15 points on the same time last year,” he said. “This loss of confi dence among the sector’s hiring managers can be attributed to the high Australian dollar, which is prompting purchasers to maximise cost efficiencies by sourcing cheaper material overseas and increasing levels of outsourcing.
“Strength in the construction and resources sectors is driving employer sentiment as the affects of the mining boom and planned infrastructure lift confi dence.”
Continuing buoyancy in the resources sector was reflected in the 4.4 percentage point increase in employer sentiment over the quarter. Just over half of employers in the mining and resources sector planned on increasing permanent headcount between now and October.
JOBS: Hudson regional manager James Tocci says businesses are under pressure to retain workers.
“We are seeing continuing demand for skilled labour within the mining and resources sector. This demand is driving wage pressures for non-coal-related industries to retain talent as more commercial developments kick off across the region,” Mr Tocci said. “We are technically at full employment with an unemployment rate at a record low of 4.9 per cent.
“This, coupled with a strong Australian dollar and a burgeoning skills shortage, is putting increasing pressure on businesses to identify and retain the best talent.
“Australian businesses need to ensure they have robust selection procedures and talent management programs in place to stand out from their competitors and attract and retain the most talented candidates.”
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THE NEWCASTLE POST Wednesday, July 6, 2011 5
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