Recruitment Trends in 2023

Person searching on computer with recruitment search career and employee overlayed in text boces

So far, this year has been an interesting one in the world of recruitment.  As a Fellow of the RCSA (Recruitment Association of Australia and New Zealand), a member of the QLD/NT committee, a member of a QLD Recruitment leadership team and a member of the CEO Institute, I am always very interested to hear people’s thoughts around recruitment – where they are struggling, where they have had wins, what tools they use to source, etc.?  So, in putting this together I am confident that many trends we are seeing is right across Australia and in some cases across the world.

Recruitment is heavily influenced by the economic environment and after a year where talent shortages were rampant (mainly because of people’s hesitancy to leave secure jobs in an uncertain environment), we are starting to see things lean the other way. 

Businesses, especially SMEs, are starting to cut back, or not rehire quite as fast, many are getting quite LEAN as inflation sits around the 7% mark.  Cost of living is tight; energy prices are high and there is little to no relief around rental costs.  For those that travel a lot for business, we are seeing a significant increase in the cost of flights, hotels etc and all of this affects the bottom line.

I am finding that, all in all, recruitment trends in 2023 are heavily influenced by several other factors, including technological advancements, changing demographics as well as global economic conditions. Some of the key trends that I feel will shape the Australian job market as we go through 2023 will include:

  1. Increasing use of automation and AI in recruitment processes to help companies streamline their hiring processes, reduce cost, and improve efficiency.
  2. A growing emphasis on diversity and inclusion in the workplace that reflects the diverse population of Australia, including more women in leadership roles, greater representation for Indigenous Australians, and greater acceptance of different cultures.
  3. A move towards remote working, which has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to transform the way businesses operate and recruit employees.
  4. Rise of the gig economy, where workers opt for more flexible work arrangements and engage in short-term contracts, freelance or part-time work.
  5. Focus on employee experience by employers to retain top talent, foster employee engagement and build strong organizational culture.
  6. Greater investment in upskilling and reskilling programs that enable workers to capitalise on emerging technologies and stay on top of industry trends.

In summary, I am seeing the Australian job market in 2023 will be characterized by greater emphasis on diversity and inclusion, automation and AI in recruitment processes, remote work, gig economy, employee experience and upskilling programs. Employers that stay ahead of these trends with innovative solutions will be the most successful in attracting and retaining top talent.

Overall, recruitment in Australia is becoming more competitive, diverse and focused on the acquisition of top talent with both hard and soft skills.  Traditional recruitment methods don’t always work, so ensure you are using multiple methods to attract people to your organisation.

Eva Grabner
Managing Director

Elite Executive Pty Ltd

www.eliteexecutive.com.au

Cairns | Brisbane

Eva has been working in the executive and professional recruitment industry for over 15 years and is the sole owner of Elite Executive, a successful QLD based recruitment firm. She is a highly professional and driven Managing Director and Principal Recruiter with a wealth of recruitment experience across a multitude of industries. Her previous experience includes executive leadership and senior management-level operational roles throughout the world.

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