Hays Quarterly Report: Post-quake skills in demand

Wednesday 4 May, 2011.

The size of the recovery operation in Christchurch has amplified labour demand in the insurance, IT, construction and engineering markets, says recruiting experts Hays.

The April-June Hays Quarterly Report notes that skill shortages were already evident before the Christchurch earthquakes added further pressure to the demand for talent.

“The rebuild of Christchurch will have a considerable impact on the construction and engineering sectors with resources being diverted there in the short term until more permanent solutions are found,” said Jason Walker, Managing Director of Hays in New Zealand.

“This will lead to a strong increase in demand for temporary staff in the immediate future and a steady rise in demand for permanent construction and engineering professionals from mid- 2011.”

But staffing needs extend past construction and engineering.

According to Hays, the contact centres industry has also seen job opportunities spike in response to the earthquakes. “Customer service teams in the insurance sector are expanding in response to call volumes, as well as the relaxing of past recruitment freezes which are allowing companies to recruit and backfill vacancies.

“The insurance sector also needs Loss Adjustors. Many loss adjusting firms have brought in overseas staff to assist with their immediate needs, and will speak to any experienced available candidates. In addition, insurance firms are recruiting heavily. Claims staff will continue to be in demand for the next few months as will front line customer service staff as claimants continue to seek answers to their queries relating to the earthquake.

“Demand is also up for office support in the insurance sector, particularly Business Support and administration personnel.

“Another example is IT, where organisations with national coverage are hiring short-term contractors to help fill gaps created by the earthquake in Christchurch. At the same time, other locations are seeing an influx of candidates as some choose to leave the Canterbury region.”

According to Hays, candidates across New Zealand are also exploring overseas opportunities, particularly in the UK, which is adding to immediate and urgent gaps in the market.

“As a result, employers are hiring temporary skilled staff to sustain them while they try to secure the perfect candidate to fulfill their long-term requirements,” said Jason.

“They’re also widening the net by looking at candidates currently overseas or here on working holiday visas.”

According to the Hays Quarterly Report, the skills in most demand include:

• Accountancy & Finance: Newly qualified Financial and Management Accountants are in high demand. This is in part due to the number of candidates who have gone overseas, resulting in businesses struggling to keep up with the number of positions to be filled. Also sought are Analysts with sound experience in performance analysis and pricing strategies, Systems Accountants for implementation or upgrade projects and Accounts Payable Clerks and Credit Control specialists to manage credit risk and collect bad debt. Within professional practice, BAS candidates are sought.

• Architecture: Project Architects, 3D Architects and REVIT Architects are sought after. More firms are moving to the REVIT software package, so anyone with this experience is well regarded. Many of the projects which were at concept stage at the end of 2010 are now in construction phase, while firms are moving from 2D to 3D packages.

• Banking: Business Development Managers and Relationship Managers are needed as confidence improves and the opportunity to grow market share increases. Also sought are Investment Bankers, Relationship Managers and Senior Managers, while Banking Collections specialists and Credit Analysts are in very short supply in New Zealand.

• Construction: Due to infrastructure upgrades around the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions, we expect demand to rise for Intermediate Quantity Surveyors with experience in Civil, Commercial Construction or Interiors, as well as experienced Site Engineers with roads exposure.

• Contact Centres: Solid customer service skills are in high demand, particularly when coupled with entry level insurance claims experience. The insurance sector has expanded its customer service and claims force to cope with additional call volumes resulting from the Christchurch earthquake.

• Energy: Renewable energy is the hot topic at the moment and the demand is for experts in power generation, Design Engineers, Project Managers and technical tradespeople. Within the Transmission and Distribution networks, demand remains for skilled Line Mechanics, especially Glove and Barrier Line Mechanics. Tradespeople with fibre optic splicing and telecommunication expertise are also sought.

• Engineering: CAD drafters are in demand for national design projects and Highway Design Engineers are needed for widening and upgrading projects. Civil Engineers are needed for infrastructure projects. The Christchurch rebuild will leave a shortage of candidates, particularly Structural Engineers, for other projects. Geotechnical Engineers are required for national highways projects and for elements of the Canterbury rebuild.

• Facilities Management: Demand is highest for those with trade and technical experience, particularly electrical trade, coupled with strong relationship building skills.

• Human Resources: Across the country, all major cities are recruiting internal and agency Recruitment Consultants due to increased confidence in the economy. HR Advisors, L&D Consultants and HR support staff are also needed.

• Information Technology: Both functional and technical resources are sought, creating a requirement for international candidates in the development, project and high end infrastructure fields. Traditionally, middle and senior management positions were filled internally, but this year we’ve seen key CIO and PMO roles come to market. Businesses are focusing on growth and development and to this end are keen to recruit candidates with business strategy and organisational change backgrounds.

• Insurance: In the period after the Christchurch earthquakes, the biggest demand is for experienced Loss Adjustors and Claims Consultants within the domestic and commercial sectors. Claims candidates as well as contract support staff are required to assist in the additional administration required. Life Underwriters at the senior level, Liability Underwriters, Pricing Analysts and Commercial Underwriters on the commercial side are also all needed.

• Office Support: The Christchurch earthquakes have pushed the insurance sector into overdrive, hence Business Support, Customer Service, Call Centre and administration personnel are all in demand. Executive and Personal Assistants are also sought.

• Oil & Gas: The EPCM market remains busy and there is a strong demand for local candidates across the board.

• Property: The market remains static other than demand for Sales & Leasing agents. These roles are 100% commission-based in a very difficult local commercial property market.

• Resources & Mining: Senior and intermediate Mining Geologists and Engineers are needed given the growing number of mine contract renewals or new mining site proposals. Also sought are Mining Machine Operators and Heavy Diesel Mechanics.

The full Hays Quarterly Report, which expands upon these hotspots as well as covers employer and candidate trends, can be viewed at www.hays.net.nz/report

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

ENDS

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