Study: Firms eye higher staff levels
The local job market is showing signs of strengthening, with most companies ready to up staff levels in the next six months, according to a research report released yesterday. The research, put together by ALBA Graduate Business School along with ECDL Hellas, showed that most businesses surveyed expect to «significantly» increase staff numbers. «The majority of companies appear to be optimistic about their futures and their financial results,» said ALBA. The news is a positive reflection of a job market that has had high unemployment figures despite years of strong economic growth. According to the government, this is starting to change. Fourth-quarter unemployment in 2006 dipped to 8.8 percent year-on-year from 9.7 percent in the same period a year earlier, National Statistics Service (NSS) figures show. The average unemployment figure for 2006 was 8.9 percent. Finance Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis pointed out earlier this month that it was the first time in nearly 10 years that jobless figures have dipped below 9 percent. Most pay rises this year will be in line with collective wage agreements, the research showed, with almost a third replying that salary hikes will be well above inflation. «The largest portion of businesses believe that they will give increases similar with those offered in collective wage agreements. However, a significant percentage of respondents (28 percent) expect to give increases above 6 percent,» ALBA pointed out. The survey, held every six months, was conducted on 180 companies across Greece, of which 44 percent were multinationals. The majority were in the service sector (42 percent) with 19 percent being industrial firms. Among the qualities candidates will have to work on keeping sharp are communication skills. «During the hiring procedures, companies are focusing mainly on communication abilities and also candidates’ decision-making skills,» the report highlighted. sbouras@ekathimerini. com
