Hays Office Support - April 2007

New Zealand

Hotspots

Auckland and Christchurch:

• Secretaries/administrators, receptionists, data entry operators and customer service staff for positions in the range of $30,000 - $45,000. Candidate movement has been generated through resignations due to employees going overseas on working holidays, career advancement opportunities, salary increase opportunities or simply candidates wanting a change in industry.
• Also in demand are experienced legal secretaries and insurance administrators at the mid to senior level.

The coming quarter

Demand will be for experienced staff due to internal promotions, special projects and the creation of new positions in response to business growth. Additionally as companies react to the increase in business activity, the use of quality temporary staff and permanent part-time positions will increase while the permanent staff are sourced.

Salaries

In Auckland salaries have generally increased at a low but steady rate, except for experienced sales representative and managers where salary packages are above average at present. Organisations in CBD locations continue to pay more than suburban areas due to travel time, competition for talent and parking costs. There has been an increase in salaries for entry-level positions, which has been brought about by the need for talent. This is expected to continue. Salaries in Christchurch remain quite low compared to Auckland and Wellington, however salaries could increase due to the need for talent.

Candidate trends

Candidates in the $30,000 - $45,000 bracket are those most ready to move for better opportunities and salaries which is leaving a gap in the market. These positions will be difficult to fill if companies are too selective and unwilling to pay accordingly. Four weeks annual leave rather than three is no longer an added bonus and as a result candidates seek additional benefits. The demand for legal secretaries will continue over the next three months due to overseas travel and maternity cover. There will also be an increase in both permanent part-time positions and the requirement for quality temporary staff during the next quarter.