Mood of the Boardroom: Offshore recruiters raise the bar

Many CEOs and directors fear that offshore competition may make recruiting staff even more challenging.

Some 47 per cent said their companies have been impacted by Australian and UK recruiters targeting New Zealanders with job opportunities and higher remuneration and benefits packages. A sizeable 45 per cent said that had not been the case.

Some underscored "not yet"; 8 per cent were unsure.

An executive in the dairy industry suggests "there is a wave of competition for skilled and talented employees that will need to be met with remuneration and benefit packages, but also approaches such as flexibility and purpose and culture of the organisation".

"My sense is that we are just seeing the beginning of this, but net flow is outwards," says Accordant executive director Simon Bennett whose firm is the only listed recruitment company on the NZX.

Meridian Energy chief executive Neal Barclay commented that competition for software engineers in particular is building.

A similar view is shared by Forsyth Barr managing director Neil Paviour-Smith: "IT workers are in particular being targeted across the Tasman."

But this issue is clearly not only a problem for the IT and technology sectors.

"We have lost a couple of staff to Australia, and we expect to lose more," says a boss in the manufacturing sector.

"A few of our people have taken up opportunities in Australia," says a professional services firm executive.

Beca's CEO Greg Lowe says he expects to see younger people take advantage of job opportunities overseas as travel routes re-open.

"That's why it's important that we can recruit those that want to come here for work experience," he says.

"Labour markets are a global system and border constraints have created all sorts of distractions."

A tourism boss warns thought that great talent will continue to leave unless we create the right environment for them to stay.

"Just trading on the fact New Zealand is a great country to live in will not suffice.

"It must also be an exciting and invigorating place to work, where curiosity is embraced and where success is applauded.

"We do not hold up business often as a success story and when we do, they are quickly shut down. That needs to, and can change, if we want it to."