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Robert Walters: Hiring Likely To Remain Cautious For Rest of Year

2012-07-05 10:30 7766
 

HONG KONG, July 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Robert Walters has launched its latest half yearly market update. Compiled by a dedicated research team, these market updates provide insight into the very latest hiring and salary trends across the banking and financial services and commerce sectors. Both organisations and job seekers alike often draw on Robert Walters' extensive industry involvement and market insight to gain current information on salary levels, skills profiling and varying recruitment practices.

"Cautious optimism was the key operative for the first half of 2012 for most industries and we anticipate employers to remain equally conservative for the rest of the year," says Matthew Bennett, Managing Director of Robert Walters Hong Kong, Thailand and Taiwan. "With the issues in Europe and the US unlikely to be resolved quickly, global economic conditions have remained uncertain and this has impacted employers hiring budgets and attitudes across both financial services and commercial sectors."

Review of the first half of 2012 and outlook for the rest of the year:

Banking & Financial Services

  • In light of uncertain economic conditions, Robert Walters observed that many firms within the financial services market remained conservative in their hiring approaches for the first half of 2012.
  • However, within the front office space, corporate bankers in trade finance and supply chain were in demand, as were private bankers, insurance, bancassurance and sales professionals in the consumer banking and insurance sectors.
  • Across the middle and back office, areas that hired most actively during the first half of the year included regulatory reporting, liquidity reporting, economic reporting and product control.
  • As more guidelines were implemented by regulators, compliance and governance professionals were increasingly sought-after.
  • Robert Walters anticipates employers to remain equally cautious for the rest of the year with demand likely to be driven by the continuing needs of growing corporates in Hong Kong, Mainland China and the broader Asian region for day-to-day operational banking services and solutions.

Commerce

  • The first half of 2012 saw recruitment activity across most sectors in Hong Kong with an emphasis on front line, accounting and IT technical roles. The months of March, April and May were the most active in terms of hiring.
  • However with the continuing uncertainty in Europe and the US, Robert Walters does not expect the third quarter to hire as actively as anticipated.
  • Having said this, increased tourist spending and the growing affluence of the Hong Kong population should continue to push retail sales growth, giving rise to more jobs being created within the retail sector. As more companies look to gain a foothold in the Chinese and Asian markets, professionals will be required to assist companies in their growth strategies.

For a more detailed update on roles in demand, salary and market trends for the first half of 2012 and what to expect for the rest of the year, please refer to the half yearly market update.

About Robert Walters

Robert Walters is an award-winning business and one of the leading international recruitment consultancies. The Group has a network of 48 offices spanning 23 countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Continental Europe, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, South Africa and South America. For more information about Robert Walters Hong Kong, please visit www.robertwalters.com.hk.

Robert Walters Asia Job index: www.asiajobindex.com

Robert Walters Global Salary Survey: www.robertwalters.com/salarysurvey

Robert Walters Job Search App

Professionals can now search and apply for thousands of jobs quickly and easily with this unique job search app. This is currently the only global job search app and the only one that lets you register and apply for jobs directly using your LinkedIn profile. Designed for professional job seekers, there are thousands of jobs available across various sectors including banking & financial services, human resources, information technology, sales & marketing amongst many others. It is available as a free download for the iPhone via the iTunes App Store.

Robert Walters Hong Kong
20/F Nexxus Building
41 Connaught Road Central
Central, Hong Kong
T: +852-2103-5300
F: +852-2103-5301
E: hongkong@robertwalters.com

For further information or interview requests, please contact:

Elisa Yiu
Marketing Manager
Robert Walters Hong Kong
E: elisa.yiu@robertwalters.com.hk

T: +852-2161-9402
M: +852-6298-2120

Joyce Lin
Editorial & PR Specialist, Asia
Robert Walters
E: joyce.lin@robertwalters.com.sg
T: +65-6228-5313
M: +65-9770-1133

Source: Robert Walters
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