Businesses are also revising their people strategy; half of those surveyed have no plans to hire in the next six months. Those companies that have looked at productivity improvements may be finding that they don’t need to hire more staff due to increased internal efficiencies. The use of offshoring may also have resulted in some reduced need for increased headcount. In terms of training, specific on the job training is the most popular initiative in place to upskill existing staff. Those businesses exceeding their targets are more likely to upskill employees by having them work in different parts of the business than those companies who have undershot their targets. This approach perhaps suggests that an engaged and active workforce drives satisfaction from not just their salary – but also the skills, development and experience they utilise each day. A more agile and adaptable workforce would also point to the productivity improvement. |  | Hiring intentions in the next six monthsInitiatives put in place to upskill the |
Charts & tables
- Hiring intentions in the next six months
- Initiatives put in place to upskill the existing staff
The full complement
of charts and tables
from the 2013 Private
Business Barometer Pulse
may be explored
using the index below.