FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                               

09 MAY 2008

Manpower Annual Talent Shortage Survey Reveals Skilled Manual Trade, Engineers and Accounting and Finance Tops the Most Wanted List in South Africa

38 percent of Employers in South Africa Struggling to Find Qualified Job Candidates

Manpower South Africa recently released the results of its second annual talent shortage survey, revealing that 38 percent of employers across South Africa are finding it more difficult to fill jobs. The top three skills most in demand are: Skilled Manual Traders (primarily electricians, carpenters/joiners or welders), Engineers, and Accounting and Finance Employees. As a follow-up to its 2007 and 2006 surveys, Manpower Inc. surveyed nearly 43,000 employers across 32 countries and territories including 762 employers as part of the second such survey in South Africa to determine which positions employers are having difficulty filling this year due to lack of available talent. Globally, the survey found that 31 percent of employers worldwide are finding it more difficult to fill jobs.

In South Africa, it was found that 38 percent of employers are finding it difficult to fill jobs.

The top 10 positions that employers in South Africa are having difficulty filling in 2008 compared to 2007 are (ranked in order):

“Our experience nationally in sourcing the right candidates for our clients reflects the findings of the survey. Skilled trades-people, and qualified engineers and technicians specifically, are in high demand, but in short supply. In addition the increased exodus of qualified engineering staff to Australia and New Zealand specifically is making matters worse.” says Jan Coetzee, Managing Director of Manpower South Africa.

On a global basis, employers having the most difficulty finding the right people to fill jobs are those in Romania (73%), Japan (63%), Hong Kong (61%), Singapore (57%) and Australia (52%). Of these countries, Hong Kong reported the most dramatic increase compared to the 2007 result.   In the UK, India, Ireland and China, talent shortages are prevalent, but less severe, as employers are still struggling to fill specific positions.

The toughest jobs to fill for employers in 2008 are positions requiring skilled manual trades and this reflects the situation in Germany, the UK, France, Canada, Australia, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Ireland, Norway, Czech Republic, South Africa and Poland. Similarly, sales representatives are listed as the most difficult to find in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand.        

Today’s survey announcement coincides with the publication of the Manpower White Paper, Confronting the Talent Crunch: 2008, updated since its 2007 publication. The white paper highlights the growing talent shortages around the world and what businesses, governments and individuals should be doing to adapt their human resource strategies. Visit http://www.manpower.com/ResearchCenter for a copy of the Manpower white paper. 

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ChatROOM media and design

Zukiswa Nomnganga

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Email: zukiswa@chatroom.co.za

                  Note to editors

Manpower South Africa surveyed nearly 764 employers across South Africa in late January to determine the extent in which talent shortages are impacting today’s labor markets. To obtain the full Manpower Talent Shortage Survey results, click on the following link: http://www.manpower.com/ResearchCenter

In this survey, skilled manual trades refers to a broad range of job titles that require workers to possess specialised skills, traditionally learned over a period of time as an apprentice. Examples of skilled trades jobs include: electricians, carpenters, cabinet makers, masons/bricklayers, plumbers and welders.  Technicians include primarily production/operations, engineering and maintenance.

About Manpower South Africa

Manpower South Africa is the local subsidiary of Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN), a world leader in the employment services industry. Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2008, the $21 billion Manpower Inc. offers employers a range of services for the entire employment and business cycle including permanent, temporary and contract recruitment; employee assessment and selection; training; outplacement; outsourcing and consulting.  Manpower's worldwide network of 4,500 offices in 80 countries and territories enables the company to meet the needs of its 400,000 clients per year, including small and medium size enterprises in all industry sectors, as well as the world's largest multinational corporations. The focus of

Manpower's work is on raising productivity through improved quality, efficiency and cost-reduction across their total workforce, enabling clients to concentrate on their core business activities.

Manpower South Africa was established in 1999, and since inception, has built the reputation as an expert talent acquisition and staffing provider in the Finance, Engineering, IT, Office Support, and Industrial sectors. Manpower South Africa currently operates 15 specialist branches across South Africa. 

For more information, visit www.manpower.co.za.