City Weekly
Thursday, 30th November, 2006

An independent research study published by recruitment firm 1st Executive suggests that employee engagement rather than industrial relations legislation is the biggest people issue facing employers.  The study entitled Australians' Attitdues to Work - The Great Divide, presents some alarming findings for managers and business owners who are already facing a battle to retain their best people.

"The study reveals that most employers are not demonstrating the skills, the systems and the will they need to keep their best people.  This will intensify the problem of skills shortages for many employers", says Andrew Thoseby of 1st Executive.

The most confronting statistic for employers in the study is that almost 90 per cent of employers and managers believe that about 80% of their workforce will be stable for the next two years, while 74 per cent of employees said they would change jobs in that time.

More than 60 per cent of employees believe their career paths would require them to leave their current employer.