1 in 2 plan to boost headcount in third quarter: survey
Hiring intentions in Australia emerged as the strongest across the Asia-Pacific region, as employers grow more confident in the face of challenges.
Australia registered a Net Employment Outlook of +37%, closely followed by other APAC markets such as India (36%) and China (35%), according to data released by the ManpowerGroup.
The country's outlook is an increase of seven percentage points from the last quarter and a decrease by one percentage point since the same quarter last year.
This comes as 46% of 1,020 Australia-based employers say they plan to increase their headcount, according to the report. Another 38% aren't expecting any changes in their headcount, while 12% are anticipating a decrease.
Employers ‘more confident’
The findings indicate the confidence of Australian employers despite various challenges, including supply chains, demand levels, inflation, as well as talent availability, according to Penny O'Reilly, managing director of ManpowerGroup Australia.
"There is no doubt, over recent years, business leaders have become more confident operating in environments that are less than perfect. The fact that almost one in two businesses intend to increase their headcount during the coming quarter is a testament to that," O'Reilly said in a media release.
ManpowerGroup's findings remain consistent with previous reports suggesting that many Australian employers plan to expand their headcounts.
A study from Robert Half early this year found that 75% of employers plan to increase or maintain their headcounts this year. Another survey from ELMO also found that 76% are planning to grow their workforce this year.
IT sector strongest globally
Meanwhile, Australia's IT sector reported the strongest hiring intentions across the globe, with the demand expected to grow further as the country shifts to a "digital society."
The sector registered a Net Employment Outlook of +61%, increasing by five percentage points since the last quarter and nine percentage points since a year ago, according to the report.
"The Australian Information Technology sector continues to go from strength to strength. Demand for software developers, data analysts, and cyber security professionals continues to boom, especially in the banking, finance, and retail space," O'Reilly said.
O'Reilly attributed the growth to the country's "world-class" IT talent, which is driving the recruitment competition hard for domestic and international businesses.
"As we continue to shift towards a digital society, it is reasonable to expect this demand will continue to grow over time," she said.
Australia's all nine sectors also saw positive hiring intentions for the third quarter, according to the report. After IT, Communication Services (+38%) and Industrial and Materials (+38%) reported the strongest net employment outlook.
