New strategies, store expansions and tourism are driving recruitment trends at the start of 2016, according to the latest quarterly report for recruitment company Hays.

The report examines recruitment activity and trends between January and March 2016.

According to Hays, online retailers opening physical stores will be looking for store staff with category-specific experience who can work to a fast pace, reflective of online retail environments.

Store network expansions scheduled for the second half of the financial year will lead to a increase in demand for regional managers, as well as casual store staff for flexibility in new locations. Employers seeking regional managers will look for candidates with strong multi-site experience and the ability to build strong teams in order to lower staff turnover, an ongoing issue for many organisations, the report said.

Also identified was the ongoing need for staff in the luxury retail sector. According to CBRE, Australian luxury retail will be strong in 2016, boosted by spending from Chinese tourists. Retail operations managers for luxury brands are in demand, as are strong sales consultants, preferably with the ability to speak Mandarin.

As the large supermarkets execute new strategies, fresh produce buyers are in high demand, Hays said, and employers may look overseas for candidates with specialise in this area.

Hays has also seen an increase in demand for loss prevention managers at the senior levels and expects this to continue, as more retailers are focusing on reducing loss as a pivotal business strategy.

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