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Page1of616AUGUST2009ROBERTWALTERSASIAJOBINDEXQ22009RobertWalters,theinternationalrecruitmentconsultancy,todaypublishesitsAsiaJobIndexforthesecondquarterof2009.
TheRobertWaltersAsiaJobIndextracksadvertisementvolumesforprofessionalpositionsacrosstheleadingjobboardsandnationalnewspapersinHongKong,Singapore,ChinaandJapan.
KEYFINDINGS:ThetotalnumberofjobadvertisementsplacedinQ22009increasedby6.
4%comparedwithQ1andincreasedby2.
9%duringthequarter.
Q2sawanoveralldeclineinjobadvertisementsinMaycomparedwithApril,beforemovingupagaininJune.
TheMayholidayseasoninChinawasthemainreasonforthisdownturn.
IncreasedIPOactivityinHongKonginJunedroveanupturninfinancialservicesrecruitmentadvertising.
Singaporesawanincreaseinbothcorporateandconsumerspending,creatinghigherdemandforjobs.
InChina,hiringtimesareaccelerating.
HighlevelsofactivityinretailandITsectors.
TheseveredeclineexperiencedinJapaninQ1wasarrested,butthenumberofadvertisementsstillfellby3.
4%duringthequarter,indicatingthatrecruitmentactivityinJapanremainsselective.
SomeevidenceofglobalorganisationsrelocatingstafftoAsia,reducingdemandforexternalcandidates.
ThefluctuationoftheadvertisingfiguresduringQ22009suggeststhat,whilethequarterendedslightlyhigher,thereisstillplentyofcautionbeingexercisedaroundrecruitmentactivity.
THEROBERTWALTERSASIAJOBINDEXTheRobertWaltersAsiaJobIndexindicatesthatthetotalnumberofadvertisementsforprofessionalpositionsinQ22009was6.
4%higherthanthetotalpostedinQ1.
Q2tendstobea"fuller"quarter,withmoreworkingdaysthanQ1.
Q1,bycontrast,suffersfromaslowreturntofullactivityfollowingChristmasandNewYearandChineseNewYearattheendofJanuaryalsohasasignificantimpact.
Consequently,organisationsonlybegintheirrecruitmentactivityinearnestinthemiddleofFebruary.
InApril2009,thenumberofrolesadvertisedinall4regionscontinuedtheupwardmovementthatwasseeninQ1comparedtoQ42008.
InHongKongandSingapore,thistrendcontinuedthroughoutthequarter,withHongKong11.
2%aheadandSingapore10.
7%higherinJunethaninApril.
However,theMayholidayseasoninChinaandcontinuedslownessintheJapanesemarketmeantthatMayshowedaslightdeclineinthoseareas.
AresurgenceofactivityinJuneallowedChinatofinishthequarter2.
5%higher.
InJapan,Junewasslightlystronger,butthenumberofadvertisementswasstill3.
4%downinJunecomparedtoApril.
MonthbymonthanalysisofjobadvertisementsforprofessionalpositionsplacedinQ22009/Q12009:HongKongSingaporeJapanChinaTOTALJanuary200970,53048,71189,4291,426,7311,635,401February200998,91357,48683,4231,829,8832,069,705March2009100,59357,75562,7541,865,9322,087,034TotalinQ12009270,036163,952235,6065,122,5465,792,140April200993,66556,10379,9021,869,3742,099,044May200996,73758,80975,4231,676,4071,907,376June2009104,15562,10877,1961,915,6572,159,116TotalinQ22009294,557177,020232,5215,461,4386,165,536%changeQ12009–Q220099.
1%8.
0%-1.
3%6.
6%6.
4%%changeApril2009–June200911.
2%10.
7%-3.
4%2.
5%2.
9%Theabovedataisillustratedinchartsonpages5and6below.
Page2of6SectorAnalysis–numberofjobsadvertisedforprofessionalroles,Q22009HongKongQ22009%changeSingaporeQ22009%changeAprilMayJuneApril–JuneAprilMayJuneApril–JuneRetailServicing/Sales/BusinessDevelopment11,55512,03913,08613.
2%8,2479,2459,62916.
8%PropertyManagement1,2171,1781,189-2.
3%454408431-5.
1%Operation(Product,Logistics)4,9515,0825,57312.
6%3,9264,2014,55316.
0%Merchandising/Purchasing5,0995,3595,80413.
8%60160168714.
3%Lawyer/Solicitor/Barrister/ComplianceOfficer57462169220.
6%268286262-2.
2%ITSupervisor/Manager/Programmer/DatabaseAdministrator6,4306,0296,056-5.
8%5,0255,5615,85616.
5%HumanResources/Training1,2581,2011,3618.
2%2,7453,0673,11213.
4%Engineer/Surveyor/Architect/Technician9,66710,31610,86812.
4%9,2109,7999,8837.
3%Editor/Reporter477340419-12.
2%177165176-0.
6%CustomerService/AccountServicing2,4032,5582,74514.
2%2,4732,4743,00721.
6%Consultant/Analyst2,4962,5582,7429.
9%1,0369771,1046.
6%Art/Design/Creative2,0372,0142,47221.
4%1,0639981,24817.
4%Advertising,Marketing5,1565,7076,41124.
3%2,7392,6642,9066.
1%Administration/Clerical/Secretarial8,7308,6419,3837.
5%3,6903,8274,20714.
0%Accounting/Finance14,42116,99016,69115.
7%8,1708,3438,2671.
2%Others18,62518,33520,74811.
4%7,1277,5877,97211.
9%ChinaQ22009%changeJapanQ22009%changeAprilMayJuneApril–JuneAprilMayJuneApril–JuneRetailServicing/Sales/BusinessDevelopment544,167392,795556,7082.
3%27,26625,95625,524-6.
4%PropertyManagement0200.
0%53626115.
1%Operation(Product,Logistics)203,426210,508228,99612.
6%16416220223.
2%Merchandising/Purchasing17,29714,28112,610-27.
1%012200.
0%Lawyer/Solicitor/Barrister/ComplianceOfficer4,5133,8684,198-7.
0%938510411.
8%ITSupervisor/Manager/Programmer/DatabaseAdministrator190,473190,275197,5083.
7%3,9413,6223,577-9.
2%HumanResources/Training91,29992,44895,8184.
9%13611919039.
7%Engineer/Surveyor/Architect/Technician186,949179,947191,5582.
5%12,57710,99811,148-11.
4%Editor/Reporter47,92545,46948,7411.
7%5587609.
1%CustomerService/AccountServicing30,84528,52229,814-3.
3%50608876.
0%Consultant/Analyst53,55454,32257,8648.
0%70176686423.
3%Art/Design/Creative32,98332,08033,7752.
4%1,4851,5071,5111.
8%Advertising,Marketing211,142204,328217,4183.
0%33832646236.
7%Administration/Clerical/Secretarial44,98540,82043,196-4.
0%2,8853,2543,39217.
6%Accounting/Finance130,904124,407125,928-3.
8%2,0281,7492,0470.
9%Others78,91262,33571,525-9.
4%28,26126,94228,126-0.
5%*excludesMerchandising/PurchasingPage3of6MARKETCOMMENTARYAdvertisingforprofessionalpositionsacrossAsiainQ22009showedamoderateincreaseoverall,althoughthemonthlyfiguresineachoftheterritoriesshowsaverymixedperformance.
TheEasterperiodinAprilhadsomeimpactinHongKongandSingapore,whiletheMayholidayhadmoreofanaffectinChina.
Asaresult,itwouldbeprematuretoregardtheincreaseinthenumberofadvertisementsinQ2asthestartofasustainedrecovery.
Itisclearthatorganisationsremaincautiousastothegeneraleconomicoutlook,althoughtherehasundoubtedlybeenapick-upinrecruitmentadvertisingactivity.
MarkEllwood,ManagingDirector,RobertWaltersAsia(ex.
Japan),comments:"Thesecondquarteroftheyearisusuallyatruerindicationoftheoverallstateofthemarketthanthefirstquarter,whichcanbedistortedbyalatereturntoworkfromtheChristmasandNewYearbreakand,inAsia,theeffectofChineseNewYear.
Generally,wesawanupwardtrendintheplacingofjobadvertisementsthroughthequarter,morenotablyinHongKongandSingapore.
OnetrendwhichwasdiscerniblethroughoutAsiawasatendencyoforganisationstorelocatestaffinternallytoofficesinAsia.
Thisimpactedrecruitmentactivitygenerallyandisperhapsindicativeoftheoverallcautionarylessontobedrawnfromthesefigures.
Therecentmarketralliesmaybesustainable,butwehavetobewaryofthe"doubledip"effect.
Itisthereforetooearlytosayiftheincreasingupwardtrendofjobadvertisementsseenattheendofthesecondquarterwillcontinuethroughouttheyear.
"InHongKong,afairlycautious"waitandsee"approachwasadoptedbymostorganisationsinApril.
Smallerbusinesses,inparticular,havehadtomanagetheircostsextremelycarefullyandthisledtoareductioninadvertisingspend.
Sincethen,however,therehasbeensomereturnofconfidence,withmorecompaniesseekingstockmarketlistingsontheHongKongStockExchangeinJunethanintheentireprevious12months.
Thishashadaknock-oneffectinrecruitmentinFinancialServices,withanincreaseindemandforcandidatesinfrontandbackofficepositions,insuchareasasRisk,Compliance,ProductControlandIT.
Banksarelookingtoachievegrowth,butwithmuchgreaterlevelsofefficiency.
IncreasinglystringentfinancialreportingrequirementsarealsoproducingagreaterdemandforcandidatesinITandbroaderprofessionalservices.
MatthewBennett,ManagingDirectoratRobertWaltersHongKong,comments:"ThestrongperformanceofHongKong'sstockmarkethasencouragedthefinancialservicessectortostartplanningforgrowth,buttheemphasishasbeenonefficientexpansion.
Whilethebanksaremakinganumberofselectivehires,theyappeartobeexercisingacertaindegreeofcautionandwewouldexpectthistocontinueforawhileyet.
Ourexperienceshowsthatcommerceandindustrytendstolagbehindthebanks,whichsuggeststhatwewillnotseelargeincreasesinoveralladvertisingactivityfortheremainderoftheyear.
"TheEasterbreakandschoolholidayshadsomeimpactinSingapore,whichexplainstheslightdownturninApril.
However,therehasbeenevidencesincethenofanincreaseinmarketingandadvertising,suggestingthatbusinessesarestartingtospendmoremoneyonbusinessgeneration.
Thelogisticsindustryisalsoshowingmoreactivityaftertheshippingdownturn.
Infinancialservices,therearefewerexamplesofhiringfreezes,andagreaterlevelofvisibility,asorganisationslooktomakestrategichires.
Activityinsalesandmarketingcontinuestoberobust.
Theconstructionindustryisactive,asanumberofretailersarebringingnewdevelopmentstocompletion.
Therehasalsobeensomeevidenceofpropertydevelopersmarketingnewbuildsinresponsetodemandfrombuyerslookingtoreinvestgainsmadeonthestockmarket.
AndreaRoss,ManagingDirector,RobertWaltersSingapore,comments:"TheincreaseinrecruitmentadvertisingseeninQ2hasbeenreflectedinoverallmarketsentiment.
Thereisevidenceofmorecommercialconfidenceandadegreeofcautiousoptimismandtheconversationswearehavingsuggestthatclientsperhapshaveaclearerlongtermviewthanpreviously.
"InChina,thefiguresforMaywereheavilyaffectedbytheholidaybreak,althoughthesharpupturninJunecontinuedageneralupwardtrendthatbeganinQ1andtheJunefigureswerethehighestexperiencedforanysinglemonthinthelastthreequarters.
Theretailindustryshowedsignsofcontinuedstrength,withanumberofchainsandfashionstoresopeningnotonlyinthemaincitiessuchasShanghaiandBeijing,butinothercitiessuchasSuzhou.
Retailsaleshavebeenstrongandtherehasbeenaggressiverecruitmentactivityinavarietyofpositions,includingbusinessdevelopment.
InIT,therehasbeenquiteacontinuationofthetrendofoutsourcingintoChina,especiallyintoDalian,whereITisbeingheavilypromotedbylocalgovernment.
ThereisalsoevidenceoflargehealthcarebusinesseslookingtoexpandintoChina.
OneanomalyhasbeeninMerchandisingandPurchasingwhichsawasignificantdropinadvertising:thisisaknock-oneffectfromthereductionindemandfromwesternconsumersanditsimpactonmanufacturinginChina.
Page4of6CarterYang,DirectorofRobertWaltersChina,comments:"Wehaveseenanincreaseinlevelsofconfidencewithdemandintheretailandmarketingsectorsnoticeablystronger.
It'sinterestingtonotetheincreasingsupportthattheITindustryisenjoyingandthehigherlevelsofdemandforsuitablyqualifiedITcontractors.
Ingeneral,thereappeartobeagreaterwillingnessamongstorganisationstoreleaseandadvertiserolesandsubsequentlyhiringtimesarebeginningtoreduce.
"InJapanrecruitmentactivitycontinuestobeveryselectivewiththenumberofjobadvertisementsdecreasingoverthequarter.
Onasectorbysectorbasis,accountingandfinanceremainsquiteresilient,withincreasingregulatorypressuresensuringthatdemandforsuitablyqualifiedcandidates,especiallybi-lingualcandidates,remainsrelativelystrong.
TherehasbeenevidenceofJapaneseorganizationsoutsourcingahighproportionoftheirITworkabroad,especiallytoChina,leadingtoreduceddemandforITpersonnel.
Partofthereasonforthishasbeenthecontinuedstrengthoftheyen,makingtheoutsourcingofITincreasinglyattractive.
DemandhasincreasedforrolesinHRandTraining,suggestingthatbusinessesarestartingtostrengthentheirpersonneldepartmentsinanticipationoffuturehiring.
KevinGibson,ManagingDirectorofRobertWaltersJapan,comments:"AlthoughthenumberofadvertisementsforjobsinJapanhasdecreased,ourownexperiencesuggeststhatspecialistrecruitershavebeenmoreactiveinQ2thaninQ1.
PartofthereasonforthisisthattargetedheadhuntingplaysanimportantpartintherecruitmentofJapaneseprofessionals,soatrustedrecruitercanbefarmoreeffectivethantheplacementofadirectprintoronlineadvertisementWearealsoseeingthatsomeorganizationsareexperiencingpressuretoeasetheburdenplacedonexistingresourcefromearlierjobcutsandarenowstartingtoaddressthatproblem.
"NOTESFOREDITORSRobertWaltersistheleadingprofessionalrecruitmentfirmintheAsianmarketandcurrentlyhasanofficefootprintcoveringHongKong,Singapore,China,Japan,MalaysiaandThailand.
METHODOLOGYRobertWaltersspecialisesinrecruitmentatamid-seniorexecutivelevelandisabletoprovidecommentaryonkeytrendsacrossthissegmentofthemarket.
TheRobertWaltersAsiaJobsIndextracksadvertisementsbynumberintheexecutiveappointmentssectionsofthefollowing:HongKongClassifiedPostCareerTimes(FridayEdition)www.
careertimes.
com.
hkwww.
monster.
com.
hkwww.
jobmarket.
com.
hkwww.
jobsdb.
com.
hkwww.
classfiedpost.
comwww.
jobs.
gov.
hk/engSingaporeStraitsTimes(Daily)www.
jobstreet.
com.
sgwww.
monster.
com.
sgwww.
jobscentral.
com.
sgwww.
jobsDB.
com.
sgwww.
ST701.
com.
sgChinawww.
51job.
comwww.
chinaHR.
comwww.
zhaopin.
comcareer.
ceconline.
comwww.
jobchina.
netJapanAsahiShinbun(Sunday&Mondaymorningedition)NihonKeizaiShinbun(Sundaymorningedition)rikunabi-next.
yahoo.
co.
jpdoda.
jpemployment.
en-japan.
comwww.
indivision.
jpwww.
careercross.
com/enFORMOREINFORMATION:RobertWaltersRichardParnell,CEOAsiaPacific(exJapan),RobertWaltersAsiaPacificTel.
+61(02)82893100MarkEllwood,MDRobertWaltersAsia(ex.
Japan)Tel.
+6562280200KevinGibson,MD,RobertWaltersJapanTel:+81(03)45701524ForfurtherinformationontheAsiaJobIndexortosubscribeforfuturereleases,pleasevisitourdedicatedmicro-siteatwww.
asiajobindex.
comPage5of6HongKong:Jobadvertisementsforprofessionalpositionsplacedinbothprintandonlinemedia,January2009-June2009Singapore:Jobadvertisementsforprofessionalpositionsplacedinbothprintandonlinemedia,January2009-June2009Page6of6China:Jobadvertisementsforprofessionalpositionsplacedinbothprintandonlinemedia,January2009-June2009Japan:Jobadvertisementsforprofessionalpositionsplacedinbothprintandonlinemedia,January2009-June2009