2019 International Recruitment Trends

This document contains personal opinions from recruitment specialists working for Skills Provision, an international recruitment agency.

United Kingdom 

Sectors expected to over-perform include:

  • Agriculture
  • Food processing
  • Hospitality
  • Healthcare
  • Logistics
  • Construction

Sectors expected to under-perform include:

  • Retail
  • Restaurants
  • Energy suppliers
  • Automotive

Overview – Despite the unknown outcome of Brexit, the UK’s economy is weak with low growth. That said the country continues to outperform many areas of Europe. 2019 is expected to be a year of uncertainty with many changes ahead, these will affect all areas of recruitment.

Republic of Ireland

Sectors expected to over-perform include:

  • IT
  • Automation Engineering
  • Finance
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Logistics
  • Construction
  • Healthcare

Sectors expected to under-perform include:

  • Hospitality
  • Agriculture

Overview – The economic climate in the Republic of Ireland is booming. Skills shortages will be evident throughout all the major industries in 2019.

Asia

Sectors expected to over-perform include:

  • IT
  • Automation Engineering
  • Telecoms
  • Education
  • Manufacturing
  • Infrastructure
  • Finance (Wealth Management)

Sectors expected to under-perform include:

  • Factory
  • Automotive
  • Shipping

Overview – The economic outlook for Asia in 2019 remains strong. Recruitment in the region is expected to be buoyant with a strong emphasis on hiring skilled operatives from home and abroad.

 

Australasia

Sectors expected to over-perform include:

  • Mining
  • Agriculture
  • Automotive support services
  • Hospitality

Sectors expected to under-perform include:

  • Retail
  • Banking

Overview – The economic outlook for Australasia in 2019 is mixed. Skill shortages linked to trade skills will be present. There will be bursts of cyclical activity linked to natural resources. Australia has signed trade deals with many Asian countries and is set to become the agricultural bread basket for the region.

South Africa

Sectors expected to over-perform include:

  • High end IT
  • Automation Engineering
  • Engineering
  • Project Management
  • Power sector

Sectors expected to under-perform include:

  • Retail
  • Hospitality
  • Education
  • Trade skills

Overview – Internal economics and political strife coupled with high unemployment means South Africa will be a good hunting ground for Employers seeking international talent in 2019.

 

Mainland Europe

Sectors expected to over-perform include:

  • IT
  • Automation Engineering
  • Logistics
  • Construction
  • Engineering
  • All trades

Sectors expected to under-perform include:

  • Factory
  • Banking
  • Automotive

Overview – The European recruitment outlook for 2019 is mixed. Political uncertainty and trade wars between the US and China will produce head-winds. Greece, Spain Italy and France have high unemployment and weak economies. The old Eastern Europe have low unemployment and skills shortages reducing international migration.