Hong Kong – Seasonally adjusted jobless rate improves to 3.9% in January quarter

Hong Kong’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 3.9% in the period from November to January 2022, down from 7.0% during the same period the year prior, according to the latest labour force statistics by the Census and Statistics Department. When compared to the previous period from October...

India – Formal sector all set to welcome staff back to offices (The Economic Times)

India Inc, India’s formal jobs sector, is set to return to the office as several Indian companies will be getting their employees to the office full time as the third wave looks to be receding across the country, reports The Economic Times. The dip in overall Covid infection rates, full vaccination...

Japan – Outsourcing full year revenue jumps 56% with growth boosted by all segments

Japan-based staffing firm Outsourcing Inc. (2427: JP), the tenth-largest global staffing firm, reported revenue today for the full year ending 31 December 2021 of JPY 569.3 billion (USD 4.95 billion), an increase of 55.9% when compared to the previous year.

Last year Outsourcing had postponed the...

Hong Kong – Government plans to introduce subsidy programme to help employment agencies recover from pandemic

The Hong Kong government announced that a new subsidy scheme for employment agencies will be introduced under the sixth round of the ‘Anti-epidemic Fund’ to assist agencies to tide over the difficulties arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.

A labour department spokesman said, “Due to the persistence...

Malaysia – Labour market marches toward recovery in Q4 as unemployment improves and employment trends upward

Malaysia's labour market regained momentum towards recovery in the fourth quarter of 2021 stimulated by revival of more economic and social activities. The unemployment rate in Q4 stood at 4.3%, down from 4.8% in Q4 2020 and down from 4.7% in Q3 2021, according to data from Statistics Malaysia.

The 4.3%...

Australia – Former employment agency director sentenced for breaching director duties

A former employment agency director in Australia has been convicted of breaching her directors' duties and sentenced to 11 months' imprisonment.

The director, Rachel Edwards, was immediately released on a three-year good behaviour bond.

From 9 February 2009 to 26 Janurary 2016, Edwards was the sole director...

People – Recruit Holdings, Wipro Ltd.

Recruit Holdings Co. Ltd., one of the world’s largest staffing firms, announced that Keiko Honda has been appointed to its board as outside director for the upcoming fiscal year. Honda had served as CEO of the World Bank Group’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency. She is also an adjunct professor...

Asia Pacific, Middle East – Executive search association names council leadership

The Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants announced that Louisa Wong will serve as council chair to the AESC Council of Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Wong is executive chair at retained search firm Global Sage.

In addition, the AESC announced Grace Cheng, country manager - Greater...

Australia – Employment rises by 12,900 jobs in January, but hours worked fall

Employment in Australia rose by 12,900 jobs in January, an increase of 0.1% from December, according to seasonally adjusted numbers reported Thursday by Statistics Australia. The number of jobs was up by 2.8% on a year-over-year basis.

The jobs increase was all in part-time jobs, which rose by approximately...

Asia Pacific – Funding rounds announced by HR tech firms Employment Hero, Darwinbox and Manatal

Funding rounds were announced by HRIS firm Employment Hero, HR software provider Darwinbox and recruitment software firm Manatal.

Employment Hero

HRIS firm Employment Hero announced a funding found of AUD 181 million (USD 129 million), TechCrunch reported. The round was led by Seek Investments. Employment...