Few companies hiring, despite increasing workload

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Confidence is returning to the New Zealand business market, but hiring intentions remain modest, despite a spike in employees reporting a bigger workload.

Nine out of 10 hiring managers surveyed said they were confident in their company's growth prospects in the next year, but just four per cent plan to increase the number of full time staff across finance, accounting and banking roles.

The results are contained in the latest report from finance and accounting recruiter Robert Half, which surveyed 426 professionals, 227 of them hiring managers.

Those who were intending to hire would do so to help ease the workload of existing staff members (51 per cent), while 32 per cent of hires would be made to help grow business.

Two-thirds of employees surveyed said their workload had increased in the last 12 months, with 27 per cent saying their workload had increased 'significantly'.

Robert Half general manager Megan Alexander said that suggested people who were already overstretched may not be able to cope with increasing workloads that would eventuate if companies do not boost staff levels.

The small increase in plans to hire staff by employers in the next six months, was concerning, she said.

"Confidence is up and businesses now need to think about how they are going to provide the necessary manpower to manage and sustain future growth," said Alexander.

"This comes on top of the need to ease pressure on existing workloads."

"Over-stretched staff threatens retention as people start feeling undervalued and look to opportunities that provide better work/life balance, further impacting the potential growth of an organisation."

Businesses could miss out on crucial opportunities for growth if they do not have the right resources in place. The current modest intent to hire will not sustain growth expectations.

Alexander said experience showed it could take up to three months to find the right person to fill a role.

"As employee optimism grows, so does the choosiness and expectation of employees when considering a new role.

"We are already experiencing a lack of skilled business and accounting professionals in the market at certain levels and the reality is employers could face a difficult and lengthy process to find the right people to support their business expansion, whether that's a temporary or permanent position.

"Hiring managers should factor this into their recruitment plans."