The 10 hardest job vacancies for APAC employers to fill

It's no secret - close to half of employers in Asia (46%) are facing hiring difficulties, with the problem being the worst in Japan (86%), Taiwan (73%), and Hong Kong (69%). In Singapore, 51% of employers say it's getting harder to fill jobs.

But what roles are the hardest to fill? For the first time in 11 years of ManpowerGroup's Talent Shortage Survey, among the 42,000 employers surveyed gloablly, employers in APAC are reporting the most difficulty filling IT staff roles – up from 5th position in 2015.

The following are the 10 hardest job vacancies for employers to fill in Asia Pacific:

1. IT personnel - developers, programmers, database administrators, IT leaders and managers
2. Sales representatives - sales executives, sales advisors, retail sales people
3. Engineers - mechanical, electrical, and civil engineers
4. Skilled trades - electricians, carpenters, welders, bricklayers, plasterers, plumbers, masons, etc.
5. Accounting and finance staff - bookkeepers, certified accountants, financial analysts
6. Technicians - production, operations or maintenance technicians
7. Management/executive - senior and board level managers
8. Sales managers - team leaders for salespeople
9. Production/ machine operators - operators of special machinery
10. Researchers - roles involving R&D

The number one reason talent acquisition heads are having a tough time filling these roles is the lack of experience among the existing candidate pool (22%). Another one-fifth say candidates are asking for more pay than what is being offered (21%), an issue highlighted in Malaysia previously.

"With the number of job seekers looking for work exceeding the number of jobs available and the low job growth expected to persist, it is crucial that individuals upskill to remain relevant in the workforce," pointed out Linda Teo, country manager of ManpowerGroup Singapore.

 

Lead photo / 123RF