Hays Office Support - April 2007

Public Sector

Hotspots

• Career receptionists continue to be highly sought after, largely due to internal promotions. Organisations are now redefining reception roles to contain higher levels of responsibility and higher salaries in order to make it an attractive and rewarding career move.
• With continuing movements in the public sector due to secondments, maternity leave and annual leave, demand is high for executive assistants and personal assistants, medical typists and senior administrators. High level executive assistants can choose from several opportunities and demand higher salaries.
• Given the large number of projects occurring across the public sector, there is a continuing demand for administrative support staff. However, employers require candidates with a high level of skill and experience and there is very little work for general administrators with little or no experience.
• In response to the shortage of high calibre candidates for full-time roles, we have started to see roles being split into 'job-share' arrangements, with the aim of attracting candidates wanting a work/life balance. This is creating increasing demand for candidates who can commit long-term to a part-time position in reception and general administration.

The coming quarter

The public sector is demanding higher levels of skills from their support staff, and consequently quality candidates are in high demand, but short supply. Given the public sector's regular changes in size and shape, many employers prefer temporary or contract staff, with contracts typically increasing from three months to between six to nine months.

Over the coming quarter continued growth is expected in the areas of health, security and the environment. This will increase the demand for senior skilled administrators, executive assistants and policy, procurement and project staff at the $40,000 - $65,000 salary level.

Salaries

Quality temporary candidates are aware of their market worth and are consequently expecting to be paid higher hourly rates than what employers are often willing to pay.

Experienced executive assistants and receptionists can continue to expect salary growth as the public sector attracts those candidates with superior skills and experience. Salaries should remain generally stable for other areas.

Candidate trends

Clearances and previous government experience continue to drive the government office support market. Given the ongoing need in many government organisations to only accept security-cleared candidates, those with these clearances are offered positions over more highly skilled candidates.

A decrease in candidates with high skill levels or who are recently trained is evident, which is impacting the shortage of these candidates. There are also a declining number of high calibre candidates with PA experience between the $50,000 to $55,000 plus superannuation salary bracket and receptionists with previous experience.

However candidate availability is positive for senior executive assistants with superior skills and experience who are seeking salaries between $65,000 and $80,000 plus superannuation.

Candidates are increasingly motivated to work for employers who value their input and demonstrate this through offering extra benefits such as work/life balance, gym memberships or flexible hours. They also seek roles with variation, challenge and room for career progression.

Hays Office Support supports low-skilled candidates by offering computer training to up-skill, however many do not take up this offer.