Skills in demand

Operations, engineering and project management are the skills in demand that are set to lead growth.
According to recruiting experts, Hays, operational management departments will lead this year’s jobs growth, with 56 per cent of employers indicating they’ll add to their headcount in this area.
Engineering departments follow closely behind, 51 per cent, with project management, 49 per cent, purchasing/procurement and human resources, 47 per cent, also expecting strong jobs growth.
Some 41 per cent of employers say they’ll add to their IT headcount, 30 per cent to their marketing team and 20 per cent to their accountancy and finance department.
These findings were revealed in the annual Hays Salary Guide, and are supported by the latest Hays Quarterly Report, which shows demand for a wide range of skills including:
• Civil engineers with infrastructure experience in response to the increase in specialised projects moving into design;
• Contract administrators across residential, commercial and fit out construction;
• Facilities managers with service provider or consulting experience
• Change managers for HR teams with organisational change high up on the agenda as well as ongoing large enterprise-wide digital technology projects and transformation programs
• UI/UX designers and front end developers as start-ups, SMEs and large organisations all strive to create the best user experience for end customers;
• Data analysts to manage data and gather insights that lead to targeted calls to action;
• Accountants with data analysis skills as traditional finance roles evolve and blur the boundaries between finance and IT;
• Executive assistants supporting multiple partners or an entire executive team;
• Production and operational managers for the food industry with technical and soft people management skills.
For further insights, see the Hays Quarterly Report at www.hays.com.au/report