Hong Kong – Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate climbs to 6.3% November quarter

Hong Kong’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate jumped to 6.3% in the period from September - November 2020 period from 3.2% during the same period last year, according to the latest labour force statistics by the Census and Statistics Department.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased...

South Korea – Number of temporary employees down 3.3%, unemployment up slightly

The number of temporary employees in South Korea fell to 4.73 million in November 2020, down 3.3% when compared to the same period last year, according to data published by Statistics Korea.

The 3.3% decrease was an improvement over October’s 5.3% annual decline.

When compared to the previous month,...

Japan – Non-regular employees much less likely to telework than regular employees

The telework implementation rate in Japan for regular employees is 24.7%, the implementation rate for non-regular employment is 15.8%, according to a survey from Japanese staffing firm Persol.

Non-regular employment includes part-time employees, contract employees, as well as temporary employees.

The survey...

New Zealand – Accountancy & finance, engineering among top skills required for 2021, Hays finds

Financial accountants, quantity surveyors, software engineers and commercial solicitors in New Zealand are among the most in-demand skills required for 2021 according to Hays New Zealand.

Hays revealed 30 skills that will be in greatest demand across nine sectors and industries in 2021.

“We’re seeing...

Singapore – Nearly half of Singapore’s migrant workers infected with Covid-19 (Hindustan Times)

Nearly half of migrant workers in Singapore have been infected with Covid-19 in the past nine months, reports the Hindustan Times citing data published by Singapore’s health ministry. The data showed that more than 152,000 migrant workers, out of 320,000, who live in dormitories, have been infected....

Japan – JAIC revenue falls 24.8% as it reports loss due to impact of pandemic

JAIC (7073: TYO), a Japan-based professional services firm primarily engaged in education-integrated recruitment services, reported revenue for the nine-month period ended 31 October today of JPY 1.71 billion (USD 16.5 million), a decrease of 24.8% compared to the same period last year.

Japan – Crie Anabuki upgrades full year forecast

Japanese HR services provider Crie Anabuki (4336: JP) announced a revision to its forecasted revenue for the financial year ended March 2021.

The company slightly upgraded its forecasted revenue to JPY 6.30 billion (USD 60.5 million) from JPY 6.23 billion (USD 59.8 million). Operating income was also...

India – UpGrad acquires staffing firm Rekrut

India-based online higher education company upGrad announced that it acquired recruitment and staffing firm Rekrut, also based in India.

Rekrut India will be a 100% subsidiary of upGrad, but will continue to operate independently, with Ajay Shah continuing as the managing director.

Financial details were...

Singapore – 9 in 10 HR roles to be impacted by technology in three to five years

The majority, or 90%, of the human resources job roles in Singapore will be impacted by technology in three to five years’ time, according to a study from Willis Towers Watson.

The study, commissioned by the Institute for Human Resource Professionals and Ministry of Manpower in Singapore found that...

India – Randstad and others helping with Apple violence investigation (Economic Times)

Staffing firms Randstad, Quess Corp and Innovsource, which provide the bulk of third-party employees to Wistron, are helping out with investigations on the violence at the iPhone maker’s Kolar facility. The staffing firms said they are prepared for a deeper probe by Wistron and authorities to check...