Buoyant economy pushes up staff turnover

More companies consider contractual appointments ALAN PEAT NEW CHALLENGES in the labour market have increased demand for the outsourcing of human resources management, according to Lionel Barry , the managing consultant of JorDan recruitment, which specialises in the logistics and financial sectors. Commenting on industry trends, Barry told FTW that he was finding a big demand for quality and specialised candidates – with staff turnover nowadays tending to increase, in contrast with historical trends where people stayed put. “People are tending to move jobs far more often these days,” he said. “This is probably due to the bustling economy and growing imports and exports.” This makes recruitment increasingly challenging because it is becoming “fast paced” and “highly competitive”, he added. Barry believes that creativity and flexibility are key elements in moving with these changing trends. “We are continually striving to find innovative methods of sourcing and screening candidates to meet clients’ different needs,” he said, “with companies often under huge pressure to find competent skills immediately.” Labour regulation changes over the past few years have also led many clients to consider contractual appointments before making permanent job offers, Barry added. “This has also increased the complexity of recruitment,” he said, “as quality candidates often won’t consider this due to perceived job insecurity. “You have to strive to understand and meet the needs of clients in a complex, competitive and ever-changing market place.”