Employment growth on the lead up to Christmas

Welcome to the 11th AAAI report.

As we enter the holiday season, it is a good time for us to reflect over the past year. 2006 has been a bumper year for AAAI, with our expansion plans proving very successful in WA and Queensland. In addition, the steady flow of work through the Sydney office and the establishment of a new Melbourne office have contributed to AAAI's success. This broad network means that AAAI's national focus is stronger than ever - allowing AAAI to add value to both our clients and candidates by drawing on a larger pool of consultants and resources across Australia.

A big thank you also to everyone who voted for us in the recent SEEK SARA awards. AAAI Group was delighted to win our category (Specialist Recruiter) for the second year running. This demonstrates our strong push in the market place for candidate care and management which is so important in building relationships and achieving the right objectives for all candidates. We would also like to thank our dedicated team of IT professionals at AAAI who have put together our new website which sports a fresh look and feel. A big effort all round!

Retention of Staff

One of the major issues facing our clients is staff retention - keeping employees focused, motivated and enthusiastic about their jobs. Retention of staff is becoming increasingly important as the cost of hiring new staff is quite substantial. There are many factors that determine why people move on, including lack of challenges and limited career progression opportunities. The art of retaining staff is difficult - as one has to motivate, challenge, reward and recognise outstanding efforts. Strong leadership and staff mentoring are also important factors in keeping employees in their current jobs. We know that it is a tough job for any client to retain their staff, and often you must accept that it is not always possible - as candidates have many choices in today's marketplace!

Once again, thank you again for taking the time to read the AAAI Report. Please recommend this report to any friends and colleagues that you think might be interested in receiving the latest employment news and industry trends.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from AAAI.

Regards,
Mike Hayes.