Hays Manufacturing & Operations
January - March 2012
CHINA Hotspots
Given the uncertainty in the global economy, multinational corporations intend to enhance their low cost sourcing volume in China and other Asian regions. This is creating demand for Business Development and Product Engineering candidates. R&D VPs and Directors are also needed, along with Sales, Production and Supply Chain Managers.
There is still growing demand for skilled professionals and experienced managers within the aerospace, automotive, mechanical, chemical and industrial OEM segments.
Companies are moving some of their low-end product development function to China to compete with emerging local suppliers. Therefore Supplier Quality candidates with solid technical knowledge are in demand. R&D specialists with strong product development skills are also sought.
Ideally candidates should be fluent in English and have solid technical skills, preferably gained from working with foreign colleagues and headquarter training.
Overcoming skills shortages
Employers are increasing salaries and are willing to consider candidates who have experience with the same function in other industries. They are also offering English lessons to those with fair to good levels of English already. Many are using comprehensive training programs to help attract staff and are relying on search firms and recruitment agencies to find candidates.
A number of companies are transferring highly skilled R&D Managers from their overseas factories or offices to address the shortage of skilled candidates in China. They are also looking at enhancing their training programs to support future needs and build skills within the company. We are working closely with employers to map out the local market as well as source candidates from overseas markets.
The coming quarter
While a lot of the hiring activity currently is based around permanent roles we expect to see new permanent jobs being created this quarter.
Some companies have frozen or slowed their hiring processes due to the global economic outlook, although we still expect to see jobs within manufacturing management and some of the large companies will create more openings in Beijing and Tianjin. We expect to see new jobs being created mainly by new and emerging businesses. Others are a result of plants moving to a new location.
Executive recruitment
At the executive level we are seeing positions for Sales Directors becoming available.
Employer trends
There is more demand coming from employers for highly skilled candidates in related industries. Employers are not hurrying their recruitment process unless they find ideal candidates. They are focusing on bringing more new functions to their Chinese operations.
As hiring expectations continue to rise and competition for quality candidates increases, employers are looking at initiatives to enhance company loyalty and retain staff.
Candidate trends
We have noted an increase in candidate levels as candidates are drawn to Shanghai or Beijing for higher salaries.
Candidates are more flexible and keen to assess new opportunities in both developed and under developed markets in China. They are weighing up both career progression and benefits when looking at moving onto a new role. This increased hiring means more job opportunities are available for candidates but it also means intense competition as companies compete for the best talent.
