More staff are on the move

MORE than a quarter of Australian workers are expected to switch jobs by 2018.

MORE than a quarter of Australian workers are expected to switch jobs by 2018 with companies vulnerable to workers aged in the 30s moving interstate and overseas.

Based on interviews with more than 300 heads of engagement of the world’s largest companies by consulting firm Hay Group, the New Rules of Engagement report found more than 51,000 Australian workers are likely to head overseas to find fixed or permanent work while a further 330,000 people will move interstate each year.

The study found emerging trends such as individualism, globalisation, digitisation, technological convergence, demographic change and even environmental crises were having a significant impact on employee engagement levels and future retention strategies.

Hay Group Insight Pacific head Steve Ewin says Australian organisations are vulnerable to losing specialists and younger workers.

“In the past, Australia’s brain drain focused on experienced or specialist employees that were at the very top of their profession,” Ewin says. “The continued economic growth in regions such as Asia and eastern Europe is now driving intense competition for emerging talent. We’re seeing an increased willingness among skilled workers in their early 30s to move in search of professional and personal fulfilment. Their tendency to look offshore is impacting a generation of future business leaders as well as potentially exacerbating existing challenges of managing an ageing workforce.”

Hay Group found 84 per cent of companies should no longer focus on money to retain staff but also offer self-development, recognition and work-life balance options.

Suncorp Human Resources group executive Amanda Revis, who took part in the survey, says employers offering smarter and more flexible ways of working could attract talented people who have something else in their life more important than work.

Butler appointed

THE Australian Institute of Project Management has appointed Yvonne Butler as its new chief executive.

Butler has held senior positions in Allens, Mallesons Stephen Jaques, Ernst & Young, the Palladium Group, APP Corporation and Transfield Services, and is regarded as a leader in strategy, governance and risk management.

National president Steve Milner says the board decided Butler was the best person to lead AIPM in a changing global environment. “We have every confidence in her ability to lead our organisation to its next level of maturity,” Milner says. “She is very considered and determined, and will be a real asset.”

AHRI conference

THE Australian Human Resources Institute will hold its annual Diversity Conference in Melbourne from Thursday, October 30, supporting and building management practices of inclusion and diversity in organisations across Australia.

Keynote speakers will include: Helen Conway, director of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency; Stephen Walker, principal of Workforce Strategies and a White Ribbon ambassador; and human rights lawyer Rabia Siddique.

The conference will also announce the winners of AHRI’s diversity awards, which include categories for diversity champions, chief executives who focus on inclusion, inclusive workplaces, cross-cultural management, disability employment and gender equity.

Details: www.ahri.com.au.

Headhunting pays

CAREERONE and PeerBrief are joining forces to help employers crowd source the best candidates through their new Crowd Headhunter program.

The Crowd Headhunter initiative allows people to earn commissions of more than $1000 for successfully referring friends for jobs.

CareerOne chief executive Karen Lawson says referrals account for 25 per cent of job hires, and are the fastest source for recruitment. Referred candidates are twice as likely to stay in a role, and those who refer others are given incentives to become a talent spotter.

“Crowd Headhunter turns everyone into a talent spotter,” Lawson says. “Since referrals are such an effective source of candidates, we wanted to develop a solution that is accessible to anyone, and allow the crowd to connect the employer with employee. The strength of people’s networks are at the heart of this tool, and we want to reward referrers because they deserve it.”

The program also allows people to set up teams of headhunters.