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What’s Hot & What’s Not
Spring 2008 Edition
Compiled by Mark C. Healy
Recent reports and happenings that affect your world. Rocket-Hire keeps an ear to the ground to learn what’s really going on in recruitment and hiring.
Not
How are overseas outsourcing firms faring in the new (slower) economy? A recent report by the Economic Times in India underscores the drift toward a global, not simply US-based, slowdown. Even if India’s diversified set of globally-oriented consultancies (including the huge Tata and even bigger Infosys) do business in every corner of the world, a small drop in hiring and expansion is already mitigating the blistering growth of the “New India.” In general, this recent change from an unabated positive outlook and concern over the implications of economic success is already affecting the over 100 different countries with a substantial offshoring sector.
More on the situation in India….
Hot
The City of New York acknowledged the efforts of organizations that help New Yorkers get off public assistance and into the economy. According to the Press Release, “Organizations such as private companies, non-profits, public and private universities, and City agencies have committed to hiring New Yorkers who participate in the City's many job training and education programs.” Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office claims placement of over 500,000 people since he took office. As an ongoing trend (going back to then-VP Al Gore’s efforts in the mid-1990’s), Rocket-Hire is noticing a lot more coordination among various public agencies in charge of helping job seekers land a job. Centralized databases and easy-to-access web listings of opportunities are leading the charge to reduce unnecessary repetition and match qualified applicants with strong opportunities.
Hot or Not?
What happened to the hot market for employee talent? As events of the last few months revealed, the competitive market for talent might be changing – and quickly. Along with reports of 4th quarter banking profits at a 16-year low, and the continuing drop in housing, are reported job losses and small shifts in unemployment creating a totally new hiring market? Not according to some reports. For example, the New England HR Association reports that a majority of firms in the upper corner of the US are predicting an increase in hiring over last year, and that their biggest problem is still finding qualified help. In their survey of over 3,500 firms, 54% predicted an increase in headcount over last year. And the Merit Systems Protection Board is reporting that the government still faces a substantial ongoing need to fill jobs left by retirees and a slow, low-tech approach to finding qualified people. Nonetheless, the BLS reported a drop in job creation for the first time in four years. But unless the plunge becomes worse than expected, sectors such as sales, accounting, and health care may continue to hire almost like they were last year.
Hot
The trend toward Green technology as well as more complex attitudes regarding the impact of business on the environment have created new categories of jobs, according to a CBS report. For example, Monster.com has reported a steady increase in environmental jobs since 2005, including longtime roles such as Environmental Engineers and Foresters and modern opportunities in urban planning and law. For a real education on the diversity of jobs available for those seeking to jump on this now-mainstream trend, check out Ecojobs.com.
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