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| Tuesday, 26 March 2013, 14:10 HKT/SGT | |
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Source: Hays | |
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TOKYO, Mar 26, 2013 - (ACN Newswire) - Almost three quarters of Japanese workers see contract assignments as a less attractive option compared to permanent roles, a survey by recruiting experts Hays has revealed.
The online survey of 140 candidates asked: Has your attitude towards temporary/contract work changed over recent years/due to the global economic environment? 72 per cent said contract work is now less attractive, 15 per cent said it was more attractive and 13 per cent said there was no change in their attitude to the topic.
"Contracting is still not viewed in the same light in Japan as it is across much of the world - as an attractive proposition for both employees and employers seeking a flexible option or specialist requirement," says Jonathan Sampson, Regional Director of Hays in Japan.
"This stems largely from the historic cultural perception of the 'iron rice bowl' and stability being of upmost importance. This was also compounded in 2008 where a large proportion of contractors were let go as a result of economic conditions. However, contracting remains an excellent opportunity for Japan and the market perception will adapt to this incredibly relevant source of talent and work."
Jonathan says there is definitely a demand by employers for contract workers across Japan.
"The Hays Salary Survey shows that 66 per cent of our clients plan to use a temporary solution in the next 12 months. Our contract offering to the market now provides coverage across all of our core specialist areas and has doubled in size in the last 18 months in response to client demand," he says.
"Temporary work is not limited to entry-level office support roles, professionals at all levels and various sectors are working on a temporary basis.
"We are seeing employers engage temporary workers as a long-term solution to their staffing needs and candidates are making the most of this trend as there are many advantages for them too."
"Contracting is a lifestyle and can be a great career. With some excellent opportunities, long-term commitment often available, and variety in your work, it often represents a better choice than a permanent role.
Here are just a few benefits for both employers and candidates when considering temporary assignments:
Candidates
- Gain new experience
Temporary workers have the chance to advance their skills and career on their terms by choosing the employer and assignments they take on. They can also vary their tasks and workloads. Another Hays survey about temporary workers in Australia found 48.6 per cent of candidates like being able to gain more opportunities and skills, along with having variety in their workload (37.3 per cent).
- Work/life balance
Many people want or need greater flexibility in their working arrangements, due to family commitments for example, and consequently there is a candidate pool who are only interested in temporary assignments. Temporary assignments can also lead to better work/life balance.
- Earning Potential
By becoming an expert in your field and developing specialist skills across multiple environments, you have the ability to increase your capability and therefore worth in the market as a specialist in your field. However, often temporary assignments end in permanent opportunities, so if your heart is set on a permanent role, then this maybe the best way to achieve that.
Employers
- Expertise and engagement
Employers can hire particular expertise when needed for special projects. Organisations can experience fluctuations in their business activity for a variety of reasons, including seasonal periods, peak production times and unforeseen workloads. So, an added benefit of using temporary workers is that they can be engaged and released at short notice, which can help organisations address challenging times in their business schedules.
- Support
Another bonus of using temporary workers is the support they can provide a business' permanent workforce. Rather than continuously redistributing work between current permanent employees, which can reduce productivity, increase stress and may negatively impact on health and safety, temporary resources can instead support a permanent team and help productivity of a business.
- Testing the talent
Many organisations use temporary workers on a trial basis to test their ability to do the job and assess their compatibility with the organisation. Businesses often want to make sure a potential employee will fit in with the company culture, have the necessary skills for the position, that they want to commit to the role and will enjoy it. This 'try before you buy' approach reduces the risks involved with any permanent hire, making temporary workers an attractive option for some employers.
Hays, the world's leading recruiting experts in qualified, professional and skilled people.
Contact:
Keiko Asakura
Hays Japan
Marketing Manager
+81-3-3560-2813
Keiko.Asakura@hays.co.jp
Topic: Research / Industry Report
Source: Hays
https://www.acnnewswire.com
From the Asia Corporate News Network
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