Companies lose as staff look elsewhere

Fifty-three per cent of New Zealand workers are leaving their jobs within the first two years of being employed, research says.

The survey said premature resignations were costing companies dearly in terms of time, resources and knowledge.

The survey, conducted by Clarian Human Resources, canvassed 292 employers and 203 employees. It indicated workers were seeking more clarity from their employers over development opportunities.

More than half of the employees that responded to the survey said there was no upward mobility available to them in their organisation.

Clare Parkes, managing director of Clarian Human Resources, said the survey covered a range of industries, and the employee respondents had wide ranging levels of expertise in their fields.

"One of the key themes that came through from employee respondents was that career was an issue for them," she said.

Thirty-five per cent of employees surveyed stated they would leave their job within 12 months if they had a choice, primarily for pay, promotion or because few opportunities for career development existed in their current job. Forty-nine per cent of employees were looking for a new job between one and five times each week.

"Employers certainly need to wake up to the realities of what employees feel, rather than thinking that they understand what their employees want," Parkes said.

The survey also found that one third of employers altered their business strategy "extensively" due to the impact of the global financial crises. However, a large number of employee respondents felt they had not been properly informed about the effect the recession was having on their organisation.

Murray McLachlan, of management consultancy firm Right Management, said the job market was "loosening up a little".

As more opportunities became available, he said, employers needed to engage their workers better if they were to avoid the costs involved with losing them.

"What's critical now for employers is to make sure that employees are aware of what development opportunities are available," he said.

McLachlan said anonymous surveys were a good way for employers to find out what was causing dissatisfaction in their workforce.

"Otherwise employers are working in the dark, they need real information."

He said New Zealand employers were lagging behind their counterparts across the Tasman when it came to management skills.

The report comes amid fears of a future skills shortage stemming from increasing numbers of Kiwi workers leaving the country for positions in Australia. Recent figures from Statistics New Zealand indicated that just over 4000 Kiwis permanently crossed the Tasman last month, up from 2800 in December and 2000 in November.

An international survey by global accountancy firm Grant Thornton found the number of Australian companies planning to increase salaries this year was 23 per cent higher than in New Zealand.

Peter Sherwin, a partner and chairman of Grant Thornton's Wellington office, said the results from the Clarian survey were a "margin call" for New Zealand employers to "look under their noses" and take care of their staff.

RAPID TURNOVER

* 53 per cent of employees are leaving their jobs within the first two years of employment
* 35 per cent of employees stated they would leave their job within 12 months if they had a choice
* 49 per cent of employees were looking for a new job one to five times each week