Inbox: Managers with a future

Executives with healthcare, infrastructure, financial services and green energy expertise will be in big demand to power the global economy’s growth over the next 20 years, according to recruitment company Hays.
In its recently released report ‘Creating Jobs in Global Economy, 2011-2030’, compiled in partnership with economic forecaster Oxford Economics, Hays notes that the aging population in the developed world and their attendant healthcare needs, the anticipated vast spending on infrastructure in developing countries, the continued growth and increasing sophistication of the financial services industries and the shift towards green energy will create huge demand worldwide for skilled professionals.
Jason Walker, managing director of Hays in New Zealand, says over the next 20 years New Zealand, like the rest of the aging developed world, is likely to face chronic shortage of health workers. By contrast, the developing world will face period of rapid industrialisation and infrastructure construction which will create need for skilled and experienced workers currently unavailable in sufficient numbers domestically.
“New Zealand will need to find way to maintain our competitive edge in key industries by investing in the future skills required against backdrop of smaller and older pool of workers,” says Walker.
According to Hays, issues expected to define the skills that employers will need over the next 20 years include:
Financial sector According to the report, most of the growth in demand for financial sector workers will occur in countries where the sector is already large. In New Zealand, demand for skilled staff in this area will remain strong, says Walker.
Healthcare Across the globe, the numbers of over 65s is forecast to increase by 446 million by 2030. Countries will need to devote increasing numbers to work in the healthcare industry or increase inward migration, Hays says. “As there is already shortage of healthcare professionals worldwide, international migration may be controversial and require coordinated response.” The World Health Organisation has already introduced code of practice on the international recruitment of health personnel.
Green energy Climate change will lead to job creation in the development of green energy sources and in occupations needed to mitigate the impacts of global warming. But it is also likely to lead to job losses in industries closely connected to the generation and use of fossil fuels.
Infrastructure The need for considerable infrastructure investment in the larger emerging economies will mean significant demand for skilled labour in the construction and engineering sectors. This will require inward migration of highly-skilled temporary construction workers. These are likely to include architects, civil engineers and experienced trades people. It should also increase the demand for more permanent skilled labour in the production of engineering and mechanical goods.
On the web: www.hays.net.nz M