Employers shy away from permanent staffing

The world has experienced phenomenal change following the economic crisis in the US, with temporary and contract work increasing worldwide despite the job losses and increase in unemployment. Delegates attending an international conference for the staffing industry in San Diego in the US recently, hosted by the International Confederation of Private Employment Agencies (CIET) and the American Staffing Association (ASA), heard that in Europe the temporary work industry provided 1.8% of employment, in the US 2% and 1.9% in Japan. According to Kim Botti of specialist recruitment consultancy Lee Botti & Associates, who attended the conference, South Africa is also seeing an increase in project work and consulting. “The Baby Boomers have to readjust their approach to that of sharing their skills and knowledge on a contractual or consulting basis, while with developments such as the Gautrain Project, contract work is offered for as long as the need is there,” said Botti. Kim Botti … ‘The Baby Boomers have to readjust their approach to that of sharing their skills and knowledge on a contractual or consulting basis.’ The financial crisis in the US and its knock-on effect on the world was a key focus at the event, which attracted more than 2000 delegates. America has seen an increase in unemployment of more than 5% as has the UK. Globalisation has also impacted on employment figures as an increasing number of workers move across the world for work.