This article is from page 4 of the 2011-10-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
A RECRUITMENT firm in the midwest is bucking the trend and has 200 jobs to offer in multinational companies. CareerWise Recruitment has recruited two new members of staff to cater for a surge in vacancies. The company currently has 200 vacancies on its books as employers in the mid-west are struggling to fill the positions.
An increase of vacancies in the multinational sector has led to an increased flow of business in the midwest. Company director Joe Robbins told The Clare People that the skills required by the various companies in the IT, engineering, pharmaceutical and food sectors are not available. His company deals exclusively with multinational companies.
Mr Robbins said that Ireland is a nation of two economies – one in turmoil and generating job losses, the second buoyant and unable to fill vacancies.
“Food is having a tremendous comeback. We can’t get the people,” said Mr Robbins, who lives in Sixmilebridge and operates a business in Ballycasey, Shannon. “Back in 2001, the tech bubble burst and career guidance teachers were telling people not to do IT or electronics. We had a gap of four to five years when people didn’t study IT or engineering. There is no-one to fill the jobs at the moment. The science graduates are not there to fill the jobs,” he said.
Mr Robbins has companies in the mid-west, Cork, Galway and the Midlands on his books.
“The high skilled graduates are not there. It sounds amazing when 440,000 people are unemployed,” said Mr Robbins. “Building, retail and pubs and nightclubs have had drastic losses but the multinationals have been doing well,” he added.
He said that the companies are receiving numerous applications, but the required skills are not available.
“They don’t have the skills set. We are not getting the right people. There is a shortage of skills and a shortage of people doing science,” he said.
“Despite current job loss announcements, multinational companies are still very much open for business, and recruiting,” he said.
“We are actively updating our database of suitable candidates and are seeking a very broad spectrum of capabilities ranging from management accountants; mechanical design engineers; senior system administrators; human resource generalists; production team leaders; test, software and materials engineers; a senior technical scientist; we need to find people to fill a lot of vacancies.
“It sounds unreal in a time when job loss announcements seem the norm. It’s not the exception that some companies are recruiting; it’s a reality that a large number of multinationals have jobs to fill. Perhaps it’s time to summon some of our emigrants home; we’re doing an executive search to find the right people,” said Mr Robbins.