Employers are taking a positive outlook into 2012; 44% of them report they are likely to increase their staff numbers next year, says David Lowe, Employment Services Manager for the Employers and Manufacturers Association.

The signal is from the EMA’s Annual Employment Round Up Survey conducted last week with 508 responses. The survey has been run for the past 5 years.

“We attribute the resilient employment outlook to some extent to the useful changes to employment law brought in at the start of the year,” Mr Lowe said.

“About half the businesses report the employment law changes passed last year have assisted them.

“The problems the law changes addressed are not significant for all businesses but for those that are affected they tend to be very significant.

“Nevertheless the extent that the new laws have helped is a surprise given they have been in place just nine months.

“For instance 79% of employers in the survey make use of trial employment periods which they say encourage them to hire sooner than they otherwise might.

“Other findings include 60% of employers are finding it hard to recruit skilled employees with 39% reporting difficulty finding suitable staff in general.

“Job security is an issue. 34% of employers report no one left to work elsewhere during 2011, and a further 35% said only ‘a few’ had moved on to new jobs.

“Employees who are aware the business they work in is in good shape are cautious about moving to another employer they know far less about.

“18% of employers in the survey said that at least one of their employees had left for Australia.

“69% of employers reported they are open to consider shifting from ACC to a private insurer when a law change makes this possible. 15% say they will definitely make the move.”