Hays’ accountancy and finance regional director David Cawley spoke to Accountants Daily about recruitment trends for 2017 and how they apply to the accounting profession.
“All the data and info we've got would suggest [contract and temporary accounting roles] are probably going to rise again next year,” he said.
Mr Cawley said this could be a result of the improving economy, in NSW, Queensland and Victoria in particular.
“We're seeing quite a lot from businesses where they're taking the opportunity while the economy is better to do the projects they've put off for a while, or expanding into new areas of business,” Mr Cawley said.
“They’re taking a bit of a punt on things, whereas previously they haven't because the economy hasn't been as good.
“That probably tells us temp and contract jobs are going to continue to grow, but also permanent is going to grow as well.”
Mr Cawley said Millennials, in particular, are attracted to contract and temporary roles because of the flexibility they provide.
“We keep seeing increased appetite for candidates to look more at contract work,” he said.
“We see more and more candidates now whose lives are contract work instead of necessarily needing a permanent position.”
While contract and temporary roles may look attractive, Mr Cawley said employers will want to “plug and play” candidates who have enough experience to need little training or guidance.
“If you're employing somebody on contract basis you're expecting them to be able to come in really quickly, have the skills for the job and do it with little mentorship,” he said.
“When clients look on the permanent side I think they are probably a bit more flexible as to people’s backgrounds, and over the last four or five years employers have realised that this golden wish list of attributes that they require doesn't actually exist and they have to be flexible.”
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