Changing economic climate pushes job security to the fore

THE GYPSY element amongst freight industry employees – who have in recent years been able to wander from job to job in search of extra money – are likely to soon feel the market brakes applied. According to Lee Botti of national recruitment consultancy Lee Botti & Associates, which specialises in the logistics industry, jobs are certainly still pouring in. “But,” she told FTW, “there is always a job boom at the beginning of the year as people wait for their year-end bonuses, then look for something new. However, Botti is convinced that companies are going to tighten their belts this year, with the local market being hit by slow-down problems like the power outages, climbing interest rates, rising inflation and international economic pressures. The “job-swopping” mentality is likely to quickly change to one where “jobsecurity” becomes the front factor, she added. “Retrenchments in the industry are already starting to happen, and that’s usually a strong indicator that the market is going into a tightening-up phase.” The market is also still being hit with a dire local skills shortage on all levels, and, according to Botti. Although the government has assisted in easing applications for permits for many occupational classes, shipping specialists have not been allocated a quota. This has led to counter-offers in order to retain skills, which are influencing salaries as candidates’ packages are increased. But there are also distinct signs in the freight and shipping market of a shift in skills availability, according to Dr Lynn Ribton-Turner, who heads up Ribton-Turner Recruitment. “As it was last year,” she told FTW, “there are still a large number of vacancies – and candidates are still not readily available. Counter offers are still evident as is direct headhunting due to the competition amongst forwarders for scarce resources. “But it is evident that a regular stream of candidates is beginning to appear.” The reasons for the market-shift, according to Ribton-Turner, are because major international forwarders have employment on hold; other majors are rumoured to be retrenching staff; and still others are moving into mergers and acquisitions – which may lead to a clash of cultures and employees seek new opportunities While the greatest demand for staff in clearing and forwarding and shipping lines is still in the technical and operational area – like freight controllers – management positions, especially in sales, are also abundant. She also noted that the demand for import skills was likely to swing to an increased demand for export skills.