Global employment survey finds professional jobs market still strong

Despite continuing concerns  over fall-out from the eurozone crisis, a regular global survey of over 19,000 organisations in 52 countries has found jobs market for professionals and managers holding up well.

The ‘Global Snapshot’ project from the multi-national recruitment firm, Antal International, asked 19,376 companies in major markets such as western and eastern Europe, Africa, India, China and the USA whether they were currently hiring at professional and managerial level.

It then asked whether they planned to do so in the coming quarter and whether they were currently letting staff go or were planning to do so in the next three months.

Current hiring levels across the globe were up with 55% of respondents recruiting at professional and managerial level in comparison to 52% in the last survey in July. 54% of organisations questioned also intended to hire in the coming quarter.

The rate of attrition was down slightly from 17% in February to 16% now and this was expected to drop to 15% over the next three months.

Western Europe

The highest levels of hiring were found in Malta (82%), Luxembourg (69%), Norway (68%) and Sweden (68%), while the lowest was recorded in Spain where only 27% of companies questioned were in the process of recruiting at professional or managerial level. In the UK the percentage of businesses recruiting was down from 61% in July to 48% now but is expected to rise to 58% in the coming quarter.

Eastern Europe and Eurasia

The highest levels of recruitment in this region were found in Turkey (74%), Russia (67%) and Czech Republic (65%). The lowest were recorded in Hungary (39%) and Croatia (38%).

Middle East

Employment markets were relatively strong across the region, the weakest, in Bahrain registering a respectable 52% hiring rate. The highest levels of recruitment were found in Qatar (77%), Saudi Arabia (73%) and Oman (70%).

Africa

In the continent’s most high profile economy, South Africa, hiring levels were up dramatically from 56% in July to 68% now and this figure is only expected to dip marginally to 67% over the next three months. The highest level of recruitment was seen in Nigeria where 73% of businesses polled were hiring professionals or managers.

Asia Pacific

The Philippines recorded the highest level of recruitment activity in all 52 countries surveyed with 98% of organisations currently hiring. Activity was down marginally in China from 70% in July to 67% now but is expected to climb to 68% in the coming quarter. In India the percentage of organisations increasing headcount had risen from 69% in July to 72% now and is due increase to 75% in the next three months.

The Americas

All six employment markets surveyed in the Americas – Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico and the USA – all registered at least 60% hiring activity at professional and managerial level. Canada had the strongest performance with 66% of businesses currently seeking staff.

Conclusions

“While the ongoing troubles of the eurozone seems to be generating an atmosphere of near panic amongst many bankers and politicians, global employment markets, at least at professional and managerial level appear to be holding up well,” says Antal’s CEO, Tony Goodwin.” Despite predictions of a return to the darkest days of 2008 and 2009, the latest Snapshot sees overall hiring levels actually greater than in the summer – up to 55% of organisations surveyed from 52% in July. “

“As might be expected the driving force behind the figures is the continuing success of economies in emerging markets, particularly those in Asia. As a result the region has the highest level of recruitment around the world – 67% in comparison to just 39% in Western Europe. Global Snapshot continues to highlight just how dramatic the shift of economic power is becoming. If this trend continues it could be that the next generation of movers and shakers in the business world will be found in Beijing, Brasilia or Bangalore rather than in Boston, Birmingham or Berlin.”

FACTFILE:
Founded in 1993, Antal International is a managerial and professional recruitment specialist with a global reach. One of the first recruitment organisations to devote substantial resources to emerging markets, the company now has over 100 offices in more than 30 countries and works with many of the world’s most successful and ambitious multi-nationals.