There are indications that the economy of Chile may be entering a period of recovery after the South American country posted a number of stronger-than-expected economic reports. The news is expected to have positive implications for the recruitment sector in Chile, including in areas such as technology and retail.
Felipe Hirschberg Feldman, managing director of executive recruitment company Monroe Consulting Group Chile, said economists and business leaders were cautiously optimistic that the beginnings of a recovery were in sight after the release of the series of positive economic reports.
He said that manufacturing production increased by almost 1.5 percent in September compared to the previous year, on the back of a range of factors, including the production of food and wood products, as well as refrigeration equipment. Reuters had forecast a 1.5 percent decline. Other positives were a slight decline in the jobless rate to 6.8 percent and a more than 7 percent jump in retail sales, he said.
Felipe said that even copper, which suffered a 26 percent price drop last year, had so far gained 2.2 percent in 2016. Chile produces 30 percent of the world’s copper, and has traditionally been a key factor in the success of the economy, or otherwise, he said.
“Recruitment has been impacted by the downturn in the economy, particularly the resources sector, but we are starting to see encouraging signs, including in the technology and energy sectors, where there is demand for workers with specific technical skills,” he said, adding that retail was another encouraging area.
Felipe said it was important for companies that wanted to remain competitive to make the correct decision when selecting to work with an executive recruitment company such as Monroe Chile.
“The recruitment market in Chile is highly competitive, with a range of local and multinational recruitment companies offering services that cater from fresh graduates up to executive-level hires, such as Monroe,” he said.
He said businesses selecting a preferred recruitment partner was not simply limited to cost. “Monroe has a superior database of many of the best candidates available in the market-place as well as professional recruiters who can locate and recruit candidates who may not necessarily be looking for new opportunities,” he said. “More targeted recruiting is a great way to source the talent a business needs to expand.”
In addition, Felipe said, another key element in the success of the international award-winning recruitment company was its ability to understand the importance of the individual cultures of its corporate clients. “This has really helped us form lasting relationships with some of the largest companies operating in Chile and place ourselves in the best position to help our clients with their executive recruitment needs.”