What is causing the shortage in the office support space?
- Candidates are loyal to employers who looked after them during COVID and thus are less likely to leave their jobs.
- Candidates are wary of changing jobs due to their experience of increased uncertainty during COVID.
- With changing priorities, candidates are more selective in choosing where to work (see our latest EST10 survey). When discussing job opportunities, we are often asked by candidates how the potential new workplace handled COVID and whether there were any redundancies.
- Some candidates have opted out of full-time hours, preferring the balance of time with family.
- For some time now, including before COVID, roles are becoming more specialised, i.e., drilling down on core skills and competencies i.e., you as the employer have become more refined and selective with your requirements.
- Administrator roles are no longer ‘easy’ for most job seekers to throw their hat to. The office support space has come into its own as a well-regarded and needed profession.
I estimate we have seen a contraction of talent in the office support space, which was already tight pre-COVID, by at least 30%.