Hays Office Support - January 2009

Public Sector

Hotspots

In New South Wales, entry-level and experienced candidates with reception, personal and executive assistance skills, and mid-high level administrative support skills are in high demand. This is primarily due to candidates being promoted internally to maintain company knowledge and security.

In Queensland, there is a shortage of all-round administration and secretarial temporary staff due to permanent recruitment being delayed or requirements being reassessed. In addition, a continuing shortage of senior executive support candidates exists, particularly for directors and CEOs, as senior managers expect their staff to be able to deliver results with a minimum of training.

In Victoria, executive assistants with State government experience, and administrators with intermediate-advanced computer skills are in demand. This is primarily caused by executive assistants taking leave or progressing into project officer roles. Senior administrators with computing skills are also required to handle an increasing amount of project-oriented work.

In Western Australia, increased government recruitment activity is present, in particular for personal assistants and executive assistants. Private health and aged health continue to develop rapidly, creating demand for medical secretaries, records officers, and office managers.

In the Australian Capital Territory, experienced APS4 executive assistants, skilled administrators and TRIM administrators are all in demand. The change of government, and funding cuts over the year, has resulted in an increase of skilled candidates in the market.

The coming quarter

The New South Wales Government has frozen permanent recruitment however many departments are utilising temporary staff to cover the shortfalls.

In Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory, employers are indicating that they will be reviewing their resourcing in early 2009.

Candidate trends

In New South Wales and Western Australia, candidates have become more flexible and will work for lower hourly rates of pay for short-term assignments. Candidates ideally want long-term or ongoing assignments, however permanent candidates have now become more accommodating in their broader job requirements, and public sector positions are gaining appeal due to offers of greater job security.

In Queensland and Victoria, there has been an increase in candidate availability across the office support market. More candidates are now seeking temporary assignments following redundancies or premature termination of temporary contracts.

On the permanent side, candidates are less willing to leave their current place of employment due to a need for job security however in early 2009 this is expected to change as more jobseekers enter the market.