The big question on everyone’s lips at the moment is whether there is any evidence of the market softening? The simple answer at the time of writing is no, although we can not ignore some of the indicators that could lead to a notable change in market sentiment in 2023.
With the current economic turmoil affecting general confidence in the market, there will likely be some choppy waters ahead. We have certainly seen the IPO market stall post Russia’s invasion of Ukraine however more generally speaking, the continued focus on governance within organisations coupled with ongoing candidate supply issues would suggest that recruitment is not heading blindly towards a cliff edge.
Many of us will not forget that deep feeling of uncertainty caused by the pandemic. By contrast, the current headwinds feel very different and do not seem to be impacting the confidence amongst governance professionals to make a strategic career move. Perhaps we have all become more resilient to volatility allowing us to compartmentalise concerns and see opportunity rather than panic. Governance professionals have consistently proven through Brexit, the pandemic and war in Europe that they are business critical and able to weather any short to medium term fluctuations in the market. Those looking to progress their careers in 2023 should do so with confidence and purpose.
The growth areas for governance continues to be professional services, financial services, and insurance. The additional regulation and complexity within these organisations mean that average team sizes are at least 30% larger compared to other non-regulated businesses. The data tells us that recruitment activity within these sectors remains at a constant whether that is to replace leavers or increase headcount. The Not For Profit sector also continues to enjoy above industry average growth especially at the mid-level.
The key challenge for all companies is how best to attract and retain top talent. For those that have not recruited since 2020, sophistication in the recruitment process and salaries have moved on so they will need to adjust in order to stay competitive. Getting the narrative right around the opportunity, company vision and values, diversity, leadership and culture is now a critical part of the recruitment process in a candidate driven market. Reinforcing these aspects to existing staff members is also a critical component of retention as is a structured focus on helping them achieve their professional goals within the company.
We are living in uncertain times and no industry or profession is completely immune to the impacts of the underlying state of the (global) economy. For now at least, the data supports a short term softening of the market rather than a hard fall, which in an overheated market may encourage individuals to take stock, and for salaries and attrition to stabilise at all levels. We have had two booming years and there is an argument that a softening of the market will bring recruitment to more normalised levels.
As we round off a remarkable 2022, I believe we have much to look forward to in 2023. Supporting each other and responding positively to the challenges faced will ultimately determine the outcome. If recent history has taught us anything, it’s that governance professionals are masters at adapting to change and enabling their boards to achieve their objectives within the construct of good governance no matter the prevailing economic conditions.
Posted 05/12/2022 By David Press