Employment Outlook Encouraging

Britain, we are often reminded, has a skills shortage. Many employers have trouble finding the right people for the job. This problem isn’t unique to the UK though. The countries most of us consider moving to also have skills shortages. In fact, employers in many countries are even keener than they are in Britain to find skilled people.

Manpower carried out a world-wide survey of employers to discover their recruiting intentions for the first three months of 2007.

Seasonally adjusted, a net 18% of employers in Canada and 19% in the United States are looking to hire new staff. This is somewhat higher than the UK where the figure is 15%.

Looking Down Under, employment prospects are even better – a net 24% of employers in both Australia and New Zealand are recruiting.

Apart from Ireland, (23%,) employers in European Union countries are a bit less enthusiastic about employing new staff than their North America and Australasian counterparts. A net 5% of French employers expect to recruit new staff in early 2007. In other EU countries the figures are Spain 16%, Italy 3%, Sweden 12%, and Germany 4%.

For the more adventurous, the commodity and metals boom inspired by China and India means job prospects are good in South Africa, with a net 31% of employers looking for new workers.