Employers concerned by skills shortage among admin staff

Half of all employers in the UK believe skills shortages will affect their ability to recruit the right administrative support staff. A further fifth are uncertain about how such shortages may affect their business operations, according to a survey carried out by recruitment firm Robert Walters.

The shortages highlighted in the study refer to skills sought by employers of management assistants that include the ability to speak a foreign language such as French, German, or Italian; technical proficiency in Microsoft programmes like PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook; plus a typing speed of 60 words per minute with an accuracy of more than 70%. In terms of sector-specific knowledge, the firm notes that candidates with experience in the property, oil and gas, professional services and legal sectors are most in demand at present.

Secretarial and support roles compare favourably with others and head the list of jobs that employers are actively recruiting for at 55%, outstripping those in IT, HR, Legal and Sales & Marketing.

The research also indicates a strong preference for hiring permanent staff, with nearly seven in ten organisations looking to recruit in this way. A similar number (70%) say that business growth or new business will have the strongest impact on recruitment, up from 54% at the start of the year.