Bangkok--2 Dec--Robert Walters Thailand
Robert Walters, a global recruitment specialist group headquartered in London, with regional offices in Southeast Asia today released its Salary Survey 2020, focusing on Thailand and Southeast Asia.
The momentum of ever-increasing digitalisation is set to continue to be a major trend across the region, with demand for tech-savvy professionals increasing, including managers with hybrid skills.
Meanwhile, so-called 'glocal' talent with an understanding of global references as well as local know-how is becoming more prescient as economies rise and businesses become more internationalised.
With change and digital evolution comes regulatory shifts too, with a greater need for key risk and compliance experts.
At the same time, with 2019 showing growth in manufacturing regionally, opportunities across many sectors are opening out to would-be employees from supply chain, procurement and logistics to engineering, finance and human resources. In Thailand, this upswing is being boosted by many factors, including the development of the Eastern Economic Corridor.
A definite trend that will gain traction in 2020 and beyond is employers adopting a wider perspective regarding applicants; hiring potential and embracing transferable skills rather than fixating solely on direct experience.
Spotlight on Thailand
In Thailand, the business climate and economy are robust, with the digital revolution honing-in on the country's mobile-first focus to drive growth and expansion; navigated by strong leaders and innovators of change. Additionally, with the Eastern Seaboard acting as a magnet for foreign investment and more export activities, this will lead Thailand's recruitment status going into 2020 in a positive way.
The issue facing Thailand is likely to be that demand for talent outweighs supply putting pressure on hiring managers to meet expectations of 15+% annual bonuses, a clear career path and a positive working environment.
Thailand Country Manager, Punyanuch Sirisawadwattana points out how employers need to be competitive to capture the best employees. "It's absolutely vital that company directors in Thailand understand the details and implications of the Robert Walters Salary Survey 2020. What employee expectations are, what factors lead to them switching jobs and what elements are important within a role are key to not only recruiting the right talent but also maintaining a sustainable workforce."
On an individual industry level, the takeaways from the Robert Walters Salary Survey 2020 include the following:
- Accounting & Finance: Stakeholder management and SAP/system implementation skills are in demand, while 49% of professionals staying in their roles can expect an annual salary increment of between 7-15%Those moving jobs can expect an average figure of 15-25%. At present, 21% of those hired in this field stay in a role for less than two years.
- Banking & Financial Services: International investment relationship managers, private bankers and risk & compliance experts are in demand, with 30% of professionals in this sector staying in a role for less than two years. Expectations from candidates moving jobs is, on average, to receive salary increments of between 20-25%.
- Engineering & Manufacturing: Top jobs in demand include managerial roles in quality control, project engineering and continuous/process improvement. With a quest for better compensation and benefits the biggest motivator for moving jobs, and an average expectation of salary increments of between 15-30% on changing jobs.
- Human Resources: Of the top four motivators to move jobs, the most popular reason, at 36%, was career progression, while skills in demand include business partnerships, a strategic mindset and logical as well as critical thinking.
- Legal: A good command of English, a commercial mindset and well-rounded expertise are the top skills in demand, with 61% listing better compensation and benefits as the top motivator for moving jobs. Meanwhile, salary expectations to stay in a role for 56% are a 7-15% salary increment, with 27% expecting a 15+% rise.
- Sales & Marketing: High turnover is revealed with 36% of professionals staying less than two years in a role, with career progression listed as a top motivator for switching jobs for 34%. Expectations of salary increases for those moving jobs is between 15-30%, with regional sales, key account and digital marketing managers in demand.
- Supply Chain & Procurement: Some 62% staying in their current roles expect an annual salary increment of between 7-15%, with career progression (29%) the main reason for changing jobs followed by 20% seeking better compensation and benefits as well as opportunities to work internationally. Procurement/purchasing, demand/supply planning and logistics managerial skills are in demand.
- Tech & Transformation: Career progression as well as better compensation and benefits (27%) were joint top reasons for moving jobs, while 10% listed seeking better company culture as a reason. With 32% of professionals staying less than two years in a role, the top jobs in demand are full stack/mobile developers, data scientists and UI/UX engineers.
For more information, please visit www.robertwalters.co.th/