Employment & Industry Report

Advanced Client Services (ACS) is providing this report free of charge to our clients, aiming to supply relevant information and data that will be beneficial to its readers. This is the first of the quarterly published report to be distributed. This report will be developed throughout each period with the view of improving the quality of information placed in this report. Any feedback on the report is welcomed and can be forwarded to joel@acs.com.au. All of the data provided is from reliable sources that can be referenced.

The first 4 figures are an indication of the health of the job market for candidates.
The implications of this for employers are:

As the employment rate increases:
1. Your number of quality candidates available to choose from is likely to decrease.
2. Quality candidates are more likely to have several opportunities available to them.
3. Employers must be able to communicate to a candidate the advantages of working for their company so that the candidate is confident of accepting the position and does not look to accept any offers from other prospective employers.

Employment Statistics

1. National Unemployment Rate

Unemployment Rate: 6.1% (note since compiling, unemployment has rise to 6.2%)
Change: +0.1%

2. Employment Rate Change

Employment Change: +2.1%

3. Economy Size 2003 (Quarterly figures)

Economy Size: $186 827m (GDP 2nd Qtr December 2002-2003)
Change: + 0.9% Quarterly rise
Change: +3.7% Annual rise

The change in employment can partially be attributed to the growth of the national economy. The unemployment rate is expected to decline over the next financial year. This indicates an increase in demand and employers can expect a smaller pool from which to recruit, indicating that candidates who match position requirements may be harder to attain.

(Australian Jobs Review, Jan 03)
http://download.hsbc.com.au/markets/anzweekly/oz030203.pdf
http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/mesi/mesi31.htm

4. National Average Weekly Earnings

AWE for full time Employed Persons: AUS $919.00 (Full time adult total earnings)
Average Full Time Annual Salary: $(AUS) 47 788 pa
Change: +5.0%

As of August 2002, Full-time adult average total weekly earnings were AUS $919.00, this figure has increased by 5.0% since August 2001. The increase in private sector weekly wages and public wages had both steadily increased, but the public sector is still attracting higher wages on average. Employers must ensure that they are remunerating employees adequately.

ACS recommends watching the AWE of your key employees. Ask, what the factor of AWE where they employed on, ie 1.5 of AWE? And what is that now? If that has moved down, say 1.35 then they may have fallen behind the market in their sector they may be susceptible to changing employment motivated by remuneration.

*full time, male and female, includes overtime and all bonuses.
Average Weekly Earnings ABS File 6302.0
http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats

5. Average Working Hours

Average Full Time Working Hours: 42.1 hrs (Male and Female per week)
Average Part Time working Hours: 16.4 hrs (Male and Female per week)

Men on average are still working more hours than women.
Females on average worked for 39.1 hours while men worked 42.7 hours per week for November of 2002.

6291.0.40.001 Labour Force (HR) Hours Worked and Average Hours Worked Australia – Monthly statistics
http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats

6. Business Averages

Average No. of employees per company: 10.1 persons (All industries)
Average profit in all industries: 10%
Average profit of large businesses (>100 employees): 21%
Average profit of other business: - 6%

Source: ABS (8140.0)
http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats

7. Inflation

Inflation Rate: 3%
Change: +1%

The Inflation rate has been steadily shifting, creeping up to the 3% as of December 2002. December 2001 saw inflation placed just below 2%. Positive consumer spending and a strong economy are the main forces behind the increase.

Sources: ABS (6401.0)
http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats

Ladder Climbers and Snake Sliders

(What went up & what went down.)

8. Employment by Industry

Top 3 industry employers for 2002

Retail trade: 14.7%
Manufacturing: 12.5%
Property and business services: 11.9%

These figures represent the percentage of the workforce that each sector employs.

Source: Australian Jobs Review 2002
www.workplace.gov.au

Source: ABS (6203.0).
http://www.abs.gov.au

9. Employment by Occupation

Top 3 occupations

Professionals: 18.3%*
Intermediate clerical, sales and service workers: 17.4% *
Tradespersons: 13.0%*

Studies conducted between November 2001 and November 2002 revealed some interesting data on employment by occupation. The Management and Administrative sector registered negative growth measuring a – 6.7% decline. Interestingly enough, the unemployment of this sector was a low 1.5% suggesting this segment has an ageing population.

* % of total working population

Source: Australian Job Review 2002
www.workplace.gov.au

10. Employment Vacancies

DEWR Skilled Vacancies Index decreased by 0.5% in February 2003 to 110.6.

Professional vacancies declined by 0.2%
Associate Professionals declined by 4.5%
Trade employment declined by 0.1%

The strongest rises in February were:

Printing Trades increased 6.0%
Marketing and Advertising Professionals up 4.7%
Electrical and Electronics Trades by 3.1%

Skilled vacancies decreased for all major occupational groupings.

Source: Department of employment and workplace relations
www.workplace.gov.au

11. Industrial Relations

Number of Unfair Dismissals Stats (2001-2002)

Settlement rate in Conciliation improved to 75%
Change: +2%

No. of cases finalised at or prior to commencement of Conciliation: 1 508*

No. of Cases Finalised prior to arbitrated orders: 359*

Termination of employment decisions

Total No. of Cases Upheld in the Commission: 28

No. of Cases Dismissed in the Commission: 35

This data indicates that the conciliation process has effectively prevented a significant number of cases from going before the commission, effectively preventing downtime in the workplace as well as the number of cases that had to go before the commission.

*Total of 1937 matters in the period 2001-2002

Table 5: Appeals—Termination of employment decisions 2001–02 (NSW)
Table 6: Summary of outcomes of termination of employment matters finalised during 2001–02
http://www.airc.gov.au/research/annual/ar2002/airc/wotc/wotc2.html

Human Resource Issues

Articles

What are employers looking for in prospective employees?
What are the vacancy rates within your employment market?
What are the employment prospects for your industry?

http://www.workplace.gov.au/WP/CDA/Files/WP/outlook2002.pdf

Lessons for Successful Change Management: The Five key questions that need to be answered before implementing change!

http://www.workforceone.org.sg/bulletin/index.asp?arc=0&target=1974&article=2293

Flexible work arrangements: How work hours are changing and advice on retaining Key employees.

http://www.comp-search.com/hr_advice11.htm

When a staff member approaches you with a specific complaint about a peer and asks that you keep the comments secret, beware the situation that could develop. When anonymity is requested, it’s best for managers to be on the defensive.

http://www.zdnet.com.au/newstech/hr/story/0,2000024989,20269552,00.htm

Information on Working from Home: We are unable to reference this site but go to ninemsn.com.au to search and enter “Issues: Working from Home” for the latest stories and issues relating to this form of employment.

Careers & Babies & Contemporary Issues for Women

We are unable to reference this site but go to ninemsn.com.au to search and enter “careers & babies” for the latest stories and issues relating to this important issue and how it impacts on employment.

Small Businesses and Maternity Leave

We are unable to reference this site but go to ninemsn.com.au to search and enter “Maternity Leave and Small Business” for the latest stories and issues relating to this important issue and how it impacts on employment.

ACS focuses on increasing our partners’ productivity by delivering tangible benefits that save time, money and stress. Our unique Twelve Point Action Plan enables an understanding of our partners’ business and personnel needs to then provide high quality candidates who present a return on their investment. Visit our website www.acs.com.au to view this information or call on 9455 0390.

In any organisation, employees should be viewed as investments that are involved in the overall long-term company strategy. Therefore, the recruitment process, being short term in practice, has significant long term outcomes for organisations and must be performed in a manner that will provide a return on their investment. By utilising a company such as ACS, you will be benefiting from our unique process that will save you time, money and stress.

Disclaimer

Advance Client Services provides this information in good faith to the best of their knowledge. The information should not be relied upon for continued use as it will become obsolete. ACS will not be liable for loss resulting from any action or decision by you in reliance on the information provided. Before making business decision you must verify this information for yourself.

Contact Information

Advanced Client Services Pty Ltd
56 Berry Street
North Sydney NSW 2060

P.O.Box 400
North Sydney NSW 2059

Ph: 9455 0390
Fax: 9455 0911
www.acs.com.au