I had the pleasure of recently attending the ANZ Recruitment Trends webinar hosted by JobAdder. The panel members included JobAdder CEO Martin Herbst and recruiting veteran Greg Savage, both sharing some insights from the second half of 2023. 

Read on for some key takeaways.

💡 While job listings are down overall (but interestingly, still higher than pre-Covid), broadly speaking, the market isn't doing too badly. Although unemployment has risen marginally, skills are in demand, and companies are hiring, albeit cautiously across some industries.
 
💡 It's an employer’s market at present, and as a hiring manager you're likely experiencing high volumes of applications for roles advertised on job boards - but you won't necessarily be seeing the calibre of candidate you need for your role.
 
💡 Candidates need to be more highly convinced that the role is right for them. If a candidate with niche skills is safe where they currently are, they're taking a cautious approach to considering a move - no one wants to be "last in, first out" when it comes to restructures/redundancies.
 
💡 Security and stability are key motivators compared to a year ago, where flexibility and salary were the driving motivators for seeking a new opportunity.

As external consultants, navigating these factors are part of the constant conversations we have with clients and candidates. We take immense care to ensure motivations and expectations are a genuine match.  Being outside of our clients' organisations, we are uniquely positioned to do this. It's one of the most satisfying parts of being a consultant with Farrow Jamieson.  I look forward to assisting my clients in 2024.