Shopping for compliments

SORTED: Portmans assistant store manager Carolyn Elliott organises her in-store displays

A lack of skilled workers in New Zealand is starting to reach startling proportions, and most industries are struggling to fill positions from unskilled labourers to top executives.

The retail industry is no different, and for the first time interested parties are putting together an application for the Department of Labour to have the industry included on the country's job shortage list.

New Zealand Retailers Association (NZRA) chief executive officer John Albertson says there is a shortage of retail workers across the industry from entry-level positions to high-end professionals.

"We are trying to identify roles that retailers are finding hard to fill. This involves a process of research work.''

This apparent shortage is supported by the results from two recent surveys conducted on all industries. The annual Grant Thornton International Business Owners survey found that about half the 150 New Zealand business owners questioned had a greater problem finding skilled workers than business owners in 23 other countries, with the survey saying that a lack of skilled workers was a barrier to expansion.

Also, a New Zealand Institute of Economic Research quarterly survey found that companies were finding it more difficult to recruit staff than at any time since 1974.

A strong economy in New Zealand has led to a low unemployment rate, the lowest in the OECD at about 3.6 per cent, and this means that it is definitely a job-seeker's market.

Recruitment specialist company Retailworld Resourcing has been experiencing difficulty in placing skilled candidates in positions for a while. Managing director Ben Harman says the low unemployment level is putting pressure on the candidates they are looking for.

"While the retail sector continues to grow and with steady growth in malls, with New Zealand and Australian retailers expanding their stores, the demand for store staff increases.''

He says the demand for staff is across the board and with shopping and retail centres expanding, the shortage is not going to go away.

Retailers are finding it more challenging to fill positions. They have to cast their nets further than in the past to get candidates.

This has meant an increase in advertising outside of New Zealand on job boards and websites.

A direct result of this is the application by the retail industry to the Department of Labour for the industry to be considered for addition on the job shortage list at the next review.

The Department of Labour review identifies industries where there is a genuine shortage of labour, which isn't affected by recruitment difficulties or pay and working conditions.

There are two occupational shortage lists: the Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL) and the Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL). Each performs a particular function, with the ISSL identifying occupations where there is an immediate shortage and migrants are issued a temporary entry visa. The other list identifies occupations where there is an ongoing shortage of labour, in New Zealand and throughout the world. People applying to enter New Zealand on these grounds are issued a work permit, and after two years can apply for residency.

To be included on either list, industry groups must provide information that supports their claim and the Department of Labour assesses the submission on their merits by consulting with employers, collective employee and industry bodies, relevant government agencies and by referring to its own data.

Other initiatives that the NZRA is involved in to attract people to the industry, says Albertson, is a programme with Work and Income New Zealand. "The pilot programme involved unemployed people who were interested in the retail sector completing an eight-week training course. At the end of that time we would place people into jobs.''

Albertson says that initially the programme had a fair bit of success, but with unemployment levels so low now it is a lot harder to find candidates for the programme.

An example of a large retailer making overseas appointments is The Warehouse, which has recently appointed key executives who have worked in the UK, Asia, US, Australasia and Europe.