Contractor
Striking Attitudes

December, 2006.  Australia's very tight employment market is creating a major shift in the recruitment environment in which candidates are judging their potential employers, according to specialist recruiter Hays Resources & Mining.  In its December quarter forecast, Hays says it is yet to see any signs of slowing jobs growth, with unemployment at a 35-year low and employers' hiring intentions still very positive.

Job candidates are seeking an appropriate work/life balance and being more particular about what potential employers can offer them, the study found.  The Hays study, and another by Melbourne recruitment firm 1st Executive, suggests workers will not hesitate to "vote with their feet" if their employer will provide the working environment they want.

Under its current employment "hotspots" segment Hays lists process engineers, particularly those with hydromet experience; civil and structural engineers; mechanical engineers; and project control staff such as senior planners, estimators and contracts administrators; and site-based civil and mechanical engineers.