Three key hiring trends in 2018

11/01/18

Recruitment levels will remain high in 2018, with economic growth spurring businesses to increase headcount. Hiring managers will face acute skills shortages, with mid-level and senior candidates in particularly in short supply. According to the annual European Salary Survey released by recruitment specialist Robert Walters, all sectors will be highly active in recruiting, with businesses in Belgium being influenced by the broader European recovery. Antoine Biot, Director Robert Walters Belgium outlines three key hiring trends for 2018.

1. Candidate shortages will persist throughout 2018

Digitalisation projects within financial departments and corporate processes led to a surge in demand for digitalisation specialists. Over the course of 2018, experts in digitalisation will be in high demand as employers look to embrace new developments in e-commerce and fintech. Within finance, the most sought after professionals are those who can provide strategic insight. Biot: “Mid-level and senior candidates will be highly sought after in order to fill controller and FP&A roles, where skills shortages are particularly acute. Professionals with foreign language skills will be in high demand as well, as Belgian businesses look to expand into international markets”.

2. Increased demand for interim managers to oversee change management and cost optimisation projects

In 2017, employers increasingly came to favour the use of interim managers to fill skills gaps and oversee specific projects in finance, HR and supply chain. Biot: ”For 2018, we expect that the demand for interim management specialists will remain high, with the bulk of demand will be for candidates who can oversee change management and cost optimisation projects.”

3. Employees become more selective

The shortage of talent within certain domains also means that employers need to step up to convince top talent. Biot: "We expect salary growth higher than inflation, and employers will need to continue making competitive offers to secure the best candidates.” 79% of the professionals in our survey expect to earn more in 2018. But a competitive salary alone is not enough to attract the best professionals. Candidates are increasingly looking at other factors such as work-life balance, organization's reputation and career development opportunities when considering new opportunities."

Read the full interview with Antoine Biot, Director Robert Walters Belgium.

About the European Salary Survey

Now in its nineteenth edition, the Robert Walters European Salary Survey is a comprehensive review of professional salaries and recruitment trends across Europe. The European Salary Survey is free and based on the analysis of permanent, interim and contract placements made across the UK, Ireland, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. Request your free copy of the 2018 survey today.