Welcome

Time to exhale.

Without a doubt 2009 has had all the hallmarks of a gripping big screen drama that has kept us all on the edge of our seats. The collapsing US economy and the trickle down effect globally, revealed yet again how vulnerable we are to the fate of our trading partners.

While the media has painted Australia in the best light - dubbing it the 'best performing economy in the world' it has been a rough ride. We end the year however with a falling unemployment rate, down to 5.7% and ABS figures revealing the economy added a total of 31,200 jobs in November and 95,000 over the last three months.

We hope that this gratifying trend continues and we leave you with some soothsaying of our own below.

The team at Cameron Recruitment wishes you all a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Kindest regards,
Diane Humphries, CPA
Director | Cameron Recruitment

Key trends for 2010

At Cameron Recruitment we get to see the affects of the economy on the front line. Here are some observations from our MD Diane Humphries

2009 was very much the
"year of the restructure" in many organisations. Will this continue in 2010
or is this mostly behind us?

Yes it will continue - retrenchments are still going on during December 2009. Companies will still have to realign their businesses into 2010.

What will the unemployment rate be by the end of 2010?

Still around 5%.

When will the economic turnaround be felt at the recruitment level?

Mid 2010.

What will the HR focus be in 2010?

Both cost cutting and revenue drive in 2010. For HR the issues will be performance management and morale of the team left. Reflect and implement policies and changes due to Fair Work Australia.

Will career counselling be highly sought after in 2010?

Not overly. Candidates have spent a lot of time this year working out what they really want to do - whether they are working in an existing job and not happy or they have been retrenched during 2009. A lot of candidates have gone into temporary contracts. These candidates will reassess if that is something they want to maintain or look at permanent opportunities.

Which professions will we expect to see a shortage of talent in?

In 2011 a shortage of accountants will return as well as a shortage of good mid level candidates.

Which sector will be the hottest growth sector for employment in the year ahead?

Environment related - coming off a low base.

Which demographic will weather the job seeker market the best in 2010, baby boomers, Gen X or Gen Y?

Gen X. Baby boomers are a reliable group of employees but many jobs were lost at the senior end in 2009. They will do better in 2010 - but it will be a slow improvement. Gen Y need more experience.

When will we see the tipping point in employers and recruiters in Australia using social networking platforms seriously for recruitment?

A core group are already using it, but the majority are not. Perhaps 2011 when the skills shortage kicks in again.

What are the biggest regulatory changes set to affect the HR sector in 2010?

Definitely Fair Work. Wrongful dismissal / redundancy pay/employee leave. Longer term, "climate policies" will affect every discipline.

Diane Humphries Top 3
predictions for 2010.

2010 will be a much brighter year than 2009. More confidence - though with caution and not recklessness. Cash flow will still be critical.
A lot of pent up demand - so recruitment will be very busy. Any movement will trigger a domino effect.
Focus will slowly shift to revenue increases rather than cost decreases.

The view from Cameron RecruitmeNT

After the tumultuous and unpredictable days of 2009 the art of forecasting has rapidly turned into somewhat of a guessing game.

However the indicators suggest that there is a period of stability ahead with a turnaround on the horizon. We canvassed some of our local clients on the trends that we may see emerging in 2010 and discovered a few common themes:

Outsourcing and contract work will be in vogue. With a conservative stance to expansion most companies will opt for the use of external resources for projects. It will allow for greater flexibility when companies feel stabilised enough to invest in new staff. They may already have a good crop of external consultants familiar with their operations. Corporate training will also be key. 2010 will be about stabilising the work force after a raft of management changes or restructures. Trainers will need to be skilled in the art of facilitation as well.

Flexibility is the new black. Time may actually trump money. If employees can't have more money, the trade off will be time. This should emerge in more latitude on telecommuting, flexible hours and variations on job sharing. Managers will need to get educated on managing a virtual workforce and building virtual teams.

Modern Awards will be in place. From January 1, the new National Employment Standards and Modern Awards system comes into force. This signals changes in provisions for anyone caring for children under school age who can request flexible working time. This is a "safety net" for employees but could be a trap for employers that are not across the implications.

Coaching and training will become a key retention tool. A year of uncertain job security means that employers will need to 'show the love' in keeping the employees that they want happy. Positive reinforcement regarding their future and helping to yield significant results for the company will be key.

A view from the Hills

The 2010 outlook for the Hills District is refreshingly optimistic, thanks to the development work that that local government has been pushing for the area in the lead up to the recession.

According to the Hills Shire Council Economic Development and Marketing Manager, John Dean, overall the area was spared from the worst. "Unemployment in the Hills hasn't reached the heights of national unemployment levels," he said.

And while he is optimistically cautious about the local economy, with interest rates back on the rise, he is not expecting things to get any worse.

"The Hills economy is predominately a service economy - professional services sectors and retail are major components and health care, personal services (such as child care) are growing very strongly. These areas have experienced big growth over the last 5 years and we expect more of the same."

The Hills Shire Council is moving forward with long term planning for development. "It is all about timing and being prepared for when the cycle is moving up again. Economic cycles will determine the pace of that."

John Dean advises that 2010 is a time to sit tight and be ready for when that growth phase starts.

Welcome

Time to exhale.

Key trends for 2010

2009 was very much the "year of the restructure" in many organisations. Will this continue in 2010 or is this mostly behind us?

Diane Humphries Top 3 predictions for 2010.