While some employers are reducing costs by cutting staff numbers in the downturn and ridding themselves of poor performers, the current economic climate could instead be manipulated to create employment opportunities in areas such as supply-chain or procurement to drive costs out of a business, according to Scott Craig, director of Enigma International Resourcing.
“We are seeing the downturn in business affect workflow volumes, and therefore, less people are required to carry out the work,” he said.
“However, our clients are capitalising on this to improve their sales performance and boost business development teams. On the flipside, nervous competitors are choosing to reduce their sales force and, as a result, are sacrificing market share.”
Over the next 6 to 12 months, he predicted, areas such as manufacturing and customer support will probably continue moving offshore.
“Sectors such as financial services and mining and resources should rebound over time as consumer confidence and the larger blue chip companies rationalise their service offerings and projects,” he said.
