For the third quarter of the year, 10% of companies in Guatemala plan to increase their hirings and 85% believe they will not make any changes.
ManpowerGroup presented the Employment Expectations Survey corresponding to the III Quarter of the year, and highlighted in the results is the fact that 4% of companies consultedforesee that staff reductions will be made in the coming months.
When vacancies arise companies fill them paying the new employee less than before, and give them even more demanding requirements.
A Manpower study outlined in an article in Prensalibre.com notes that in Guatemala "requirements are increased when new staff are hired, however the wages offered are not in line with the international market.
For example, one company had a manager with a profile matching a salary of up to $3,138, this person resigned and his place was taken by a underling who had a salary of $1,255 and who, after the change in position, was offered $1,632. This person got a better opportunity and resigned, shortly after which the company attempted to hire a new manager with the requirements of the first but with the salary of the second.
Businesses are now demanding that their executives be young people who have better technical training and know a second language.
It is becoming more common for companies to ask that those who aspire to a management or leadership position have a Master's degree. Another important factor when hiring is an age range of between 25-35 years and that they have experience.
Lack of experience and lack of training are the main challenges that Guatemalan companies face when looking for managers.
The American Guatemalan Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) held the first Professional Executive Search, in order to recruit senior executives, however, there was little participation of interested people.
"The requirements to apply for a management position in a company are at least five years of experience, a degree, and a second or third language," reported Prensalibre.com.
Employers indicate greater difficulty in finding skilled labor.
According to a study by Manpower, 36% of surveyed employers revealed difficulties this year in getting qualified employees, while in 2009 the figure was 20%.
"The immediate problem is not the number of potential candidates, but rather the shortage of talent, because not enough people are sufficiently qualified," Prensalibre.com published.
17% of companies surveyed by Manpower stated that they plan to increase the number of people they employ during the coming three months.
Manpower's Employer Expectations survey asked 620 businesses about their recruitment objectives and 75% responded that had no plan to increase their workforce while 8% foresaw the need to let people go.
Eric Quesada, Manpower's regional director, told Elperiodico.com.gt that companies in north and eastern Guatemala display most optimism.
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