Survey points to "overwhelming" staff shortages

Friday 18th February 2011 1 Comment

An "overwhelming" majority of New Zealand businesses are suffering key staff shortages and many expect the situation to get worse, a survey says.

Deloitte's survey, Talent Edge New Zealand, surveyed 360 employers across a broad range of economic sectors and company sizes.

Eighty-one percent of respondents reported they had at least moderate shortages.

Talent problems were real for companies and not an abstract concept, Deloitte partner Richard Kleinert said.

As many employers anticipated an increase in their workforce in the next three years, shortages were likely to worsen, he said.

"Businesses which aren't prepared in advance may be in for a rude awakening in the not too distant future."

The types of employees most in short supply included managers, IT professionals and accounting and finance, particularly chartered accountants.

Overall, employers were somewhat "bullish" about growth expectations for their business, with 45% expecting at least moderate growth while only 13% predicting contraction.

However, larger employers were less optimistic, with 30% predicting growth and 22% expecting contraction.

Meanwhile, most employers were not expecting significant turnover rates, with 48% expecting the level to be insignificant.

"These results are rather surprising and I'm a bit concerned that this may indicate employers have not recognised this as a potential problem in the near future," Kleinert said.

It was time for employers to reflect on their "people strategy" and align it with their business aims.

"It's also important for businesses to update their talent strategies and people management practices to take account of the new economic circumstances, otherwise they could be in for a shock when the economy bounces back."

NZPA

Comments from our readers

On 18 February 2011 at 7:54 pm off to oz said:

From my experience NZ employers have themselves to blame, dithering over making decisions on new appointments, what those new appointments are to be responsible for, being very narrow in candidate criteria, changing their minds at the last minute etc. Why are so many kiwis heading across the ditch - no, it’s not just for money, it is because our OZ cousins can make decisions. Wakey wakey NZ employers, you are creating the problem you are complaining about.