Recruitment continues to get more complex even as we try and simplify

By Steve Smith Director, Sirius People

As we head into the last quarter of the 2023 fin year the recruitment industry is facing new and ongoing inflationary pressures; and raising interest rates are symptoms of the continuing fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic causing ongoing disruption to the economy and job market

Additionally, changes in industrial relations and the recent passage of the Secure Jobs Better Pay Bill are potentially looking to reshape the landscape of employment

These issues compounded with other ongoing challenges such as general economic uncertainty and visa processing times in Australia are leaving business leaders unclear and uncertain about what the next 12 months will look like.

The Secure Jobs Better Pay Bill, which was passed at the end of 2022, provides greater protections for workers and gives them more rights in the workplace. While this is a positive development for workers, it may make it more difficult for employers to hire and manage their workforce. The recruitment industry must find ways to navigate these changes and help employers find and retain skilled workers within the new regulatory environment.

In Australia, the economy is facing a period of uncertainty due to global economic challenges, geopolitical tensions, and domestic policy decisions We have seen this start to increase volatility and unpredictability in the job market, making it more difficult for the recruitment industry to match job seekers with suitable employment opportunities The industry must find ways to adapt to these changes and provide employers and job seekers with the tools they need to navigate the uncertain job market

Visa processing challenges are also posing difficulties for the recruitment industry The Australian government has been facing issues with visa processing, which is leading to delays and uncertainty for workers and employers alike APSCo are working hard at the moment to engage government on many issues as we work to ensure that we have a voice on these matters Productivity in the workforce, changes in industrial relations, economic uncertainty, and visa processing challenges are all posing difficulties for the industry in 2023

For me personally I have just seen Sirius People which I started in 2003, turn 20 years old and as I reflect; the challenges are different today from when I started. One thing is true and that is the nature of business and recruitment particularly continues to get more complex even as we try and simplify. Good luck to everyone for the end of 2023 financial year.