Report: Skill shortages a major concern

Engineers and technicians remain among the top skilled employees in demand across Asia, and about half of all employers fear the effect of skills shortages, the 2013 Hays Asia Salary Guide said.

Ninety-three percent of employers said skills shortages have the potential to hamper their businesses, and 49 percent indicate that it will "without a doubt" affect their operations, up from 38 percent in 2012.

The salary guide surveyed about 1,200 employers in the Chinese mainland, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, according to Hays, a global recruitment agency.

Twenty-two percent of the employers surveyed find it difficult to recruit junior to middle-management-level candidates in engineering, while 20 percent of employers agree they have the same problem when it comes to sourcing talent for sales roles.

Employers also report that sourcing junior to middle management in IT and technical skills is a challenge. When it comes to senior management, employers indicate shortages exist in sales, engineering accounting and finance, and human resources.

"While these figures are slightly down from our last survey a year ago, skills shortages remain a challenge for China and Asia in general," said Simon Lance, China director of Hays.

"As China's workforce has evolved, employers are willing to pay more for extra skills. However, companies have been active in attracting talent but less so in retaining talent," he added.

This year's survey also asked about employment brand, and 60 percent of employers say that a career path and training have a "major or significant impact" on their ability to attract the right candidates.