Hays Office Support - January 2008
Public Sector
Hotspots
Simply put, this is a fantastic time of year for candidates that have recently completed studying and are eager to commence their career in an entry-level administration or office all-rounder position.
Employers will be quick to snap up those graduates who have performed particularly well at TAFE or who have completed relevant Diplomas and can demonstrate professionalism, aptitude and superior computer skills.
Executive assistants will be in demand over the quarter as changes in management structures and the traditional movement of senior level staff over the Christmas period creates a need for candidates with Advanced MS Office skills and demonstrated EA experience.
There is a particularly high demand in the not-for-profit sector at the executive support level for executive assistants and personal assistants at the $45,000 to $50,000 level and at the general administrator level between $35,000 and $40,000.
Records officers from ASO 1-4 are also in high demand at this time, as are experienced, corporate receptionists, data entry clerks and customer service personnel. Temporary high-level administrators are required due to large fluctuations in workload.
This demand exists for a number of reasons, with the shortage of skilled and experienced new entrants into the market, the high salary expectations of average candidates, the increasing use of counter-offers and the opportunity for experienced candidates to move up into different roles all playing their part.
The coming quarter
The New Year is expected to bring a significant increase in temporary and permanent vacancies across most areas of the Public Sector as the change in Government and general internal movement and restructuring create new opportunities. New vacancies have also been created, most prominently in organisations with project-based work.
However the merging of a number of Federal Departments means some positions may become redundant and skilled candidates will become available, helping to ease the skills shortage.
The Education sector will boom following the start of the new semester which is a peak period requiring both temporary and permanent staff across all levels of office support.
The temporary market will also be busy, as employers use these staff to ensure workloads are completed while a permanent staff member is sourced. In addition, as budgets start to tighten there is an expectation that some roles will not be filled and therefore some areas will experience heavier workloads. This is likely to lead to more use of temporary staff to help cope with workloads, which may eventually lead to an increase in temporary-to-permanent recruitment.
Salaries
Salaries may increase slightly, since employers are aware of the need to remain competitive and candidates are increasingly negotiating a higher salary. However there is not a great deal of room within government pay structures to increase rates, although more significant increases are anticipated mid-year following financial year-end when new budgets are available.
With candidates aware of the skills shortage, they are now demanding more for their skills. Salaries are constantly questioned on all levels, and the benefits being offered by large private-sector corporates overshadow the benefits of government roles.
Candidate trends
An increase in available candidates is expected across all support positions as candidates look for a fresh start to the New Year. This will increase competition for positions yet this healthy turnover also increases the number of vacancies on offer, generating a buoyant market for all.
The next quarter is expected to bring a rise in candidate activity as university graduates and those who have recently completed their HSC or TAFE qualifications enter the workforce. In addition, candidates from administrators through to personal assistants and executive assistants are eager to progress their career and experience a new challenge.
Good candidates are becoming increasingly selective about the roles they will consider with job content, the function of the organisation and salary important factors.
