Employment takes a dive Aligned with their increasingly negative business outlook, a growing number of companies are cutting jobs in Australia — 26 per cent of businesses, compared with 14 per cent just a year ago. Less than one-quarter of all surveyed companies in Australia are hiring full-time staff, down from 35 per cent two years earlier. Again there is a divide in activity across the Tasman, with fewer New Zealand companies reducing staff. Whereas the number of Australian companies reducing staff has almost doubled over the last 12 months, the percentage of New Zealand companies reducing staff has decreased. While New Zealand companies are either not hiring or are hiring parttime instead of full-time staff, the Australian scene shows a higher incidence of staff reductions compared to part-time hires or non-hires.
1.06 Employment outlook in Australia
1.07 Employment outlook in New Zealand
37%
35%
35% 26% 24%
22%
15%
14%
5% 2010
2011
2012
2013
2010
2011
2012
2013
Hiring full-time staff Not hiring Hiring part-time staff Reducing staff
Managing on the Edge: A study of Australian and New Zealand Business Confidence Š September 2013
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