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Welcome “Women of the West” members to our March Newsletter. March – do you believe it. It feels like yesterday that I put together our December newsletter. 

So, what's the market like?

There is a lot of talk in the media about the current economic climate, we are starting to notice a slight shift in the market due to this, however strong candidates are still in the position that they are highly sort after and getting snapped up quickly. The trend over the last 2 years has been an extraordinarily strong permanent market however we are noticing that temporary and contract demand is starting to climb again. Unemployment rates are still exceptionally low however expected to gradually increase over the next 2 years.  It is still a candidate driven market, but the heat of the market from last year has cooled off a bit and there is a bit more caution in hiring decisions. 

Hot Topic for this newsletter: Onboarding 

Onboarding was a hot topic at our breakfast event last year and there was 100% agreement on how critical getting this process right is key to the success of your new team member getting up to speed with their roles, understanding the company culture, and integrating them into the team. 

Here are 4 tips from the team at Veritas. 

1. Stay Connected: in the lead up to the new employee starting, keep in regular contact over the phone, connect on LinkedIn. Invite them in to meet with the team so they are comfortable on day one - Victoria Farrow 
2. Assign a buddy this person should be responsible for showing them around, answering questions, and providing support as needed - Debbie Hannaford 
3. Feedback is your friend Get feedback on the onboarding experience and continually refine the process. - Keryn Drew 
4. Create a fantastic first impression. Onboarding starts as early as the interview process, so set the tone right from the beginning. Be engaging, keep the process flowing smoothly, show off your culture and what you have to offer as a business, introduce the team and senior leadership members. Explain the company's culture, values, and mission, and provide an overview of their job responsibilities and expectations - Natalie Pedemont 

State of the Nation – An economic update 

The latest ABS data from January 2023 shows that the unemployment rate remained at 3.5%. SEEK reported that job ads fell by 1.6% in February and are down 12.2% from Feb 2022, however applications are also down by 1.8%. 

Some of the trends that may shape the workplace in 2023: 

1. Hybrid work arrangements will continue to be high on potential employee’s priority list. 
2. Flexible work arrangements are also being adopted, these include flexible hours or even job sharing. 
3. The rise of AI is transforming the way we work, some jobs may be replaced by AI however new jobs will be created in fields such as data analysis and machine programming. 
4. A focus on employee wellbeing is a trend that will continue in 2023. Employers may offer more mental health resources and other benefits to support wellbeing. 
5. A greater emphasis on diversity and inclusion, implementing more inclusive hiring practices and offering diversity and inclusion training to their existing teams. 
6. Skills training and development opportunities to help staff stay current and engaged in an ever-evolving workplace 

Some Inspiration 

An inspiring podcast series referred by Natalie Pedemont is Work Life with Adam Grant.