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Global Workforce Trends
The drop in unemployment last month was greater than
expected. At the end of September 80,500 were registered as
unemployed at the National Labour Office. This is equal to
3.4% of the total labour force. This indicates that there is
now an increased demand for labour and a certain shortage of
qualified workers.
The Norway Post, October 2, 2005
About 76 million baby boomers, or those born between 1946
and 1964, are set to retire in large numbers by the end of
the decade. Boomers make up about one-third of the U.S.
workforce, and there aren't enough younger workers to
replace them. Labor shortages in key industries will force a
radical rethinking of recruitment, retention, flexible work
schedules and retirement.
Forbes, September 29, 2005
Canadian companies plan to hire more full-time accounting,
finance and information technology professionals than
expected in the last three months of this year, according to
a recent Robert Half International Inc. survey of chief
financial officers at 270 Canadian companies.
Thirteen percent of CFOs polled expect to add staff, an 11%
increase over third-quarter projections. The executives
planning to hire cited higher-than-anticipated growth and
increased workloads.
The Globe and Mail, September 28, 2005
Both employee turnover rate and salaries have risen in
Guangzhou, capital of southern China's Guangdong Province,
at a time when the local human resource (HR) market
continues to be highly competitive.
According to the annual survey on compensation and benefits
in Guangzhou, conducted by international HR consulting firm,
Hewitt Associates, the highest turnover rates in the
non-manufacturing sector, which considers the areas of
marketing, human resources, sales, finance as well as
research and development (R&D), ranged from 13.4% to 21.5%.
This is largely in line with the situation in the entire
country.
The most serious specialist shortages in Guangzhou exist for
top management and senior professional positions.
Salaries have been rising across the board in Guangzhou,
with the fastest raises seen for senior professionals and
managers, or 8.4% and 8.2% annual increases respectively.
China Daily, September 28, 2005
Wages and worker shortages continue to climb in Alberta,
according to the 2005 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey.
Conducted every two years, the government survey shows an
overall average wage increase of nine per cent from $19.68
per hour in 2003 to $21.39 per hour in 2005, according to a
government news release. As well, the percentage of
employers who reported difficulties in finding workers rose
from 52% to 56% from 2003 to 2005.
Edmonton Journal, September 26, 2005
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