40 per cent of candidates in Singapore are now more open to temporary/contract work, according to a survey by recruiting experts Hays.
Of the 878 respondents who participated in the survey, 40 per cent said temporary/contract work is more attractive than in the past. A further 37 per cent of respondents claimed no change in attitude to temporary/contract work, while the remaining 23 per cent view it as less attractive.
“Contrary to common perceptions temporary/contract work is not limited to entry-level office support jobs. Professionals at all levels and across various sectors are working on a temporary basis. For example there is great demand for temporary/contract Know Your Customer (KYC) professionals and finance talent within the banking industry, as well as project-based developers in the IT sector,” says Lynne Roeder, Managing Director of Hays in Singapore.
This is backed by findings of the 2016 Hays Asia Salary Guide, a separate report released earlier this year, where as many as 60 per cent of employers surveyed said they had used a flexible staffing approach in the past 12 months, and 19 per cent expect to increase their use of temporary staff in 2016.
According to Lynne, “Temporary or contract roles offer a number of benefits for both employers and job seekers”.
Benefits for job seekers include:
Skills development: Temporary/contract assignments allow you to broaden your expertise, expose you to new industries and diversify your skills and experience, which will make you more attractive and employable in future.
Work-life balance: By working as a professional contractor you can pick and choose your assignments, allowing you greater control and flexibility over your work arrangements.
Expand your network: With every temporary assignment you further build your professional network as you meet new peers in your field. This can be invaluable when seeking temporary or permanent job opportunities in the future.
Benefits for employers include:
Experts on demand: Flexible hiring allows employers to recruit particular expertise as and when needed for special projects, peak periods and unforeseen workloads. The added benefit of short notice periods can also help you address challenging times in your business cycle.
Testing the talent: Many organisations use temporary workers on a trial basis to test their ability to do the job and assess their compatibility with the organisation. This ‘try before you buy’ approach reduces the risks involved with a permanent hire.
Filling skills gaps: To address increasing skills shortages, contractors present an excellent opportunity to fill gaps temporarily. Rather than continuously redistributing work between current permanent employees, which can reduce productivity and increase stress, temporary resources can instead support a permanent team and help maintain productivity of a business.
“As market leaders in the temp and contractor sector, Hays offers employers access to a wealth of talented contract professionals and job seekers a selection of professional contracting opportunities” says Lynne.
Get your copy of the 2016 Hays Asia Salary Guide by visiting www.hays.com.sg/salary-guide, contacting your local Hays office or downloading The Hays Salary Guide 2016 iPhone app from iTunes.
Hays is located in Singapore at Level 27, UOB Plaza 2, 80 Raffles Place, Singapore. Phone +65 6223 4535 or email [email protected]
Hays, the world’s leading recruiting experts in qualified, professional and skilled people.
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For further information please contact Esabella Yeung, Marketing Executive SEA, Asia at Hays, on +65 6424 0158 or [email protected]