Temp & Perm Office Recruitment – Market Commentary January 2016

As 2015 came to a close and with the curtain opening into 2016, it has been encouraging to see considerable numbers of temporary staff being offered and accepting permanent employment at their assigned location. This has reaffirmed our conviction that providing high quality temporary staff to clients can and does result in a positive outcome for both temp and client alike.

So far in 2016 our Melbourne office has experienced an influx of temporary assignments, again with the likelihood of conversion to permanency.

Salary ranges for permanent roles (~$48K – $70K) and temporaries ($26 per hr – $30 per hr) are reasonably stable and are probably unlikely to shift during this financial year.

In our Sydney office, we’ve experienced an increased need for receptionists, administrators and customer service representatives. Of particular note, we have a growing need for experienced customer service candidates with knowledge of ERP systems such as SAP and advanced Microsoft excel capabilities.
Clients have also indicated they will have increased staffing requirements towards the end of this quarter.

Gone are the days of pure reception roles. Clients are seeking staff who can contribute to a broader range of administrative tasks whilst still focusing on professional reception/front desk duties. There has definitely been a diversion from front desk meet and greet (as a cost cutting exercise) in a number of organisations. However, strong customer service skills along with the ability to multi task, remain the priority.

We have found greater numbers of candidates using LinkedIn as a platform to effectively reach potential employers and recruiters. There has also been an increasing preference from candidates to look for part-time or temporary assignments to maintain a work-life balance.