TMP tips slower full-time job growth in coming quarter

<p>HONG KONG: Permanent employment expectations in Singapore and Hong </p><p>Kong are expected to falter in the next three months dampened by fears </p><p>of a US slowdown, a new survey has found. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>However, TMP Worldwide eResourcing said expectations are still </p><p>optimistic. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Its April to June Job Index for Singapore found that 53 per cent of 800 </p><p>employers surveyed are planning to increase permanent head count, while </p><p>6.5 per cent expected staff levels to decrease and more than 40.5 per </p><p>cent expected staff levels to remain the same. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>In Hong Kong, 48 per cent of the nearly 400 employers surveyed planned </p><p>to boost staff numbers, while 4.5 per cent expected a fall and 47.5 per </p><p>cent expected a status quo. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The sectors that showed the highest optimism in this quarter in </p><p>Singapore included advertising/communications, legal services, </p><p>telecommunications, chemical/oil and information technology. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>In Hong Kong, the more buoyant sectors included </p><p>healthcare/medical/pharmaceutical and travel/tourism. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Hong Kong projected an increase of five per cent in employers expecting </p><p>a rise in staffing levels this quarter compared to 1.8 per cent in the </p><p>previous quarter. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Sales and client servicing jobs were the most sought after this quarter </p><p>in Hong Kong with computer/IT related and engineering roles also in </p><p>demand. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The survey also found that companies in Hong Kong and Singapore are </p><p>divided over whether the US economy is headed for recession this year. </p><p>"Many of those who believe it expect a slowdown rather than a </p><p>recession," according to TMP. Despite jitters over the US economy, </p><p>companies in the two cities expect to maintain revenue and staffing </p><p>levels this year. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>In other areas, the survey found a greater percentage of companies in </p><p>Hong Kong base their bonus plans more on discretion than on </p><p>contracts. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>TMP added: "Surprisingly there are certain companies that still do not </p><p>offer any bonus schemes." Other rewards within an organisation in the </p><p>SAR included educational incentives and pension schemes. The TMP </p><p>universe covered 10 per cent of the workforce in both markets. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>