Skills in demand: ability to work smarter, not harder

Skills in demand in 2015: Topping the list in New Zealand is the ability to work smarter, not harder.

Friday January 23rd 2015

Skills in demand in 2015: Topping the list in New Zealand is the ability to work smarter, not harder.

2015’s jobs market will be characterised by high demand for skilled professionals who can diagnose time or cost inefficiencies and then offer solutions to improve their department or business’s performance, says recruiting expert Hays.

According to the recruiter’s January to March 2015 Hays Quarterly Report, released today, as long as employers want to maintain profitability while keeping costs down, people who can offer effective process or costs solutions will be in high demand.

“Employers are hiring and they have positive intentions for the year ahead,” says Jason Walker, Managing Director of Hays in New Zealand. “In our conversations with employers, it’s clear that the greatest hotspots of demand will be for people who can help a business work smarter, not harder.

“All departments now need people who can analyse performance, review and improve processes, reduce costs and increase efficiencies.

“From newly-qualified Accountants in the accountancy department, to Mobile Developers in the IT team and Business Development Managers in the sales department, the focus this year will be on improving the existing ways of operating while reducing costs,” said Jason.

According to the Hays Quarterly Report, the following skills are just some of those in demand:

Hays Accountancy & Finance: There has been a continuous shortage of newly-qualified CA candidates who have qualified within industry, as opposed to a Big Four firm. Qualified Accountants with more than six months’ commercial experience and excellent interpersonal skills are highly sought after.

• Hays Architecture: Demand in the commercial sector continues to increase and the market is looking very positive for 2015 with a lot of Architectural Practices having a good forward workload. Intermediate to Senior Revit Technicians and Project Architects are particularly in demand.

• Hays Construction: In Christchurch we expect that the high demand for Quantity Surveyors and Estimators will continue as a number of projects have been tendered and won, and are due to start early this year.

• Hays Contact Centres: Many bulk recruitment drives are currently under way and cover both temporary and permanent positions. Customer service staff of all levels are in high demand.

• Hays Energy: There is a continued shortage of Line Mechanics across rural New Zealand due to the limited population of these areas. More project work is expected to be released in 2015 and employers are optimistic there will be a lot more candidates returning from overseas.

• Hays Engineering: New jobs are being created as firms in both Wellington and Christchurch win work and pre-plan for opportunities this year. Structural Engineers from mature graduates to senior candidates are required throughout the country.

• Hays Facilities Management: New permanent roles are being created by companies expanding their operations or property portfolios. There is a shortage of qualified and experienced HVAC Service Technicians with the necessary technical knowledge and communications skills.

• Hays Human Resources: As new HR strategies, training programs and projects continue to be rolled out, demand for Learning & Development and e-learning experts is strong. The need for companies to engage current employees and retain them continues.

• Hays Information Technology: Mobile Developers with a Java background or iOS, Android, Objective-C and Swift development skills are in demand. Those with local development and commercial experience are particularly sought after in Auckland.

• Hays Insurance: Commercial Brokers are in demand in Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton. Some of these positions are newly created, while others are due to staff leaving and needing to be replaced.

• Hays Legal: Most large law firms are interested in Commercial/Property Lawyers with two to four years’ post qualification experience as there is a shortage of such candidates in the market.

• Hays Marketing: Digital Marketing specialists who can navigate the fields of technology, marketing and communications continue to be sought after. There is an ever growing need for marketers who have digital experience and skills.

• Hays Office Support: There is currently demand for Personal and Executive Assistants, especially those with industry experience. There is a good pool of candidates but employers are looking for specific skills within their industry.

• Hays Property: A general upswing in the market is driving demand for Property Managers at all levels of the market. Companies are recognising that they have been under resourced for the last few years in this area.

• Hays Sales: Many employers are looking to take on sales staff to grow their business in New Zealand’s buoyant economy. They want sales professionals who can capitalise on new opportunities and win new business. Business Development Managers are particularly sought.

• Hays Trades & Labour: There continues to be high demand for skilled New Zealand qualified trades people, especially candidates with experience working on seismic upgrades and civil developments. Carpenters, plumbers and electricians are in particular demand.

To see the full list of skills in demand and trends for your industry, please visit www.hays.net.nz/report .

Hays, the world’s leading recruiting experts in qualified, professional and skilled people.

- Ends -

© Scoop Media