Hays predicts strong 2012 growth in Asia
BRITISH recruitment firm Hays expects strong double-digit growth in its Asia business this year on strength in the resources and information technology sectors, and is more optimistic about the global outlook, its top executive said yesterday.
Chief executive Alistair Cox said that while consumers, companies and employees seemed paralysed last year by uncertainty over the world economy, they had since begun to adapt to tougher conditions and started hiring and changing jobs.
“I’m much more optimistic about the world in general than I was maybe four months ago,” Cox said at the company’s Tokyo offices. “I certainly don’t think the world’s problems have been fixed, but I do think in many areas people are just learning to deal with how the world is right now and how to go on with their lives.”
Hays, which specialises in placing workers in accountancy, IT and engineering jobs, was particularly encouraged by a strong start to 2012 for Asia-Pacific, where two of its top five markets are located.
“I would expect very strong double-digit growth across our Asia business in this calendar year because all the fundamentals are there,” Cox said.