Hays Human Resources - January 2009

Public Sector

Hotspots

Occupational health and safety candidates are a hotspot of demand as organisations become more aware of the need to minimise risk to curtail unnecessary spending. Learning and development, including management and leadership development, is another persistent area of high candidate demand due to an increased focus on staff retention.

Injury management, workers compensation, and change and organisational development experts are also required due to cost management pressures as well as widespread restructures and movements.

Remuneration and benefits candidates are always in demand, and even more so in the current climate as staff retention grows in importance.

The coming quarter

The future hiring intentions of not-for-profit organisations are very positive and there is particular demand for permanent OHS, learning and development, and change management candidates on the contract side. There are restructures happening in many organisations and candidates are keen to see what will happen in 2009.

Salaries

Salaries within the public sector have remained consistent and an influx of excellent candidates from other sectors means that for not-for-profit organisations it is a great time to attract some excellent talent.

Candidate trends

Candidates have become less willing to leave their existing positions, instead favouring job security, unless they have another guaranteed role to go to. The stability of the public and not-for-profit sectors have also become more desirable.

Candidates are more likely to take secondments in other organisations to gain valuable work experience.