Finding, developing and retaining talent the most significant business challenge of 2019, according to Asia Pacific hiring managers
Announcement posted by HireRight 16 Oct 2019
- HireRight’s 2019 APAC Employment Screening Benchmark Report reveals more than 4 in 5 organisations expect their workforce to grow in the coming 12 months; with concerns around top talent acquisition
- Three quarters of APAC employers conduct checks on a
More than 4 in 5 (83%) APAC organisations are expecting an increase in employees in the coming 12 months, according to the 2019 APAC Employment Screening Benchmark Report by HireRight, a leading provider of global employment background checks.
The annual report polled more than 4,000 Human Resources professionals worldwide, including over 600 in the APAC region. Over a third of APAC respondents (34%) deemed finding, developing and retaining talent as one of their top 3 business challenges of 2019, ahead of maintaining a competitive edge (21%) and growing revenues (19%).
Changes in background screening processes
The pressure to fill the talent pipeline is leading to changes in screening processes across the region. Three quarters (76%) of organisations in Asia Pacific conduct checks on all job candidates, with a massive 72% of respondents reporting that screening helps them assure better quality candidates and half (48%) grateful for the more consistent safety and security it affords.
Compared to last year, there has been a 13% increase in education checks (78%). Other common checks include employment (86%) and criminal (59%) – a trend consistent with previous years as awareness around background screening grows in the region.
Potential risks APAC organisations face
However, the report also identified big drops in professional license (-29%) and credit (-31%) checks – potentially exposing organisations to significant risks. The number of criminal (35%) and identity checks (27%) conducted in the region for international candidates was significantly lower than the global numbers of 56% and 34% respectively.
In addition, candidate discrepancies continue to cause headaches in HR, with over three in five (61%) of respondents revealing that they had uncovered issues through screening candidates that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.
Ko Hui Yen, General Manager, APAC at HireRight, comments:
“With the positive hiring outlook for the year ahead, it is more important than ever for HR professionals to employ and retain talent. A majority of organisations in Asia Pacific are recognising the benefits background screening provides, but there still exists room for improvement.
“By leveraging a robust and consistent background screening process, organisations can be assured of their quality of hires, improve company reputation, and ensure all candidates are treated fairly in the recruitment process.”
- ENDS -
Notes to editors:
Additional Trends Uncovered
Survey Methodology
The 2019 APAC Employment Screening Benchmark Report explores trends and attitudes from Human Resources departments across Asia Pacific. It is based on global research, with over 4,000 HR professionals anonymously sharing their experience and knowledge of their company’s employment screening and recruitment practices with us.
There were 611 participants from the APAC region, whose responses are detailed in this report. Additional reports will become available from the HireRight website, covering other vertical and/or geographical breakdowns of the survey results.
The annual report polled more than 4,000 Human Resources professionals worldwide, including over 600 in the APAC region. Over a third of APAC respondents (34%) deemed finding, developing and retaining talent as one of their top 3 business challenges of 2019, ahead of maintaining a competitive edge (21%) and growing revenues (19%).
Changes in background screening processes
The pressure to fill the talent pipeline is leading to changes in screening processes across the region. Three quarters (76%) of organisations in Asia Pacific conduct checks on all job candidates, with a massive 72% of respondents reporting that screening helps them assure better quality candidates and half (48%) grateful for the more consistent safety and security it affords.
Compared to last year, there has been a 13% increase in education checks (78%). Other common checks include employment (86%) and criminal (59%) – a trend consistent with previous years as awareness around background screening grows in the region.
Potential risks APAC organisations face
However, the report also identified big drops in professional license (-29%) and credit (-31%) checks – potentially exposing organisations to significant risks. The number of criminal (35%) and identity checks (27%) conducted in the region for international candidates was significantly lower than the global numbers of 56% and 34% respectively.
In addition, candidate discrepancies continue to cause headaches in HR, with over three in five (61%) of respondents revealing that they had uncovered issues through screening candidates that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.
Ko Hui Yen, General Manager, APAC at HireRight, comments:
“With the positive hiring outlook for the year ahead, it is more important than ever for HR professionals to employ and retain talent. A majority of organisations in Asia Pacific are recognising the benefits background screening provides, but there still exists room for improvement.
“By leveraging a robust and consistent background screening process, organisations can be assured of their quality of hires, improve company reputation, and ensure all candidates are treated fairly in the recruitment process.”
- ENDS -
Notes to editors:
Additional Trends Uncovered
- A lack of consistency in background screening processes
- Only 60% of respondents in Asia Pacific screen temporary workers, with the number dropping to half (52%) for independent contractors, 30% for vendor representatives and a measly 26% for interns – despite non-employees making up 40% of the workforce for approximately 1 in 6 (15%) organisations.
- Issues among senior executives
- Approximately 1 in 5 (20%) APAC organisations have previously uncovered issues with senior hires during screenings.
- Nearly half (44%) of respondents were aware of people who hired for high-profile positions based on gut instinct, compared to 42% the previous year.
- Increased focus on data privacy
- 9 in 10 (91%) felt their organisations were now more focused on data privacy than before the GDPR was introduced.
- Still, about two thirds of respondents were concerned with both keeping up to date with relevant regulations, such as the recently introduced Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), and with making sure their organisations are compliant.
- Half (48%) indicated that they were nervous as to how well they understood the impact of regulations on their company and role.
- HR investments for 2019
- The top investment was making HR processes more efficient (60%), followed by developing leaders within the company (52%) and maximising employee engagement (50%)
- Half (50%) of the respondents in Asia Pacific said they are looking to invest in new HR technologies in the coming 6 months - compared to only 1 in 5 (21%) globally.
Survey Methodology
The 2019 APAC Employment Screening Benchmark Report explores trends and attitudes from Human Resources departments across Asia Pacific. It is based on global research, with over 4,000 HR professionals anonymously sharing their experience and knowledge of their company’s employment screening and recruitment practices with us.
There were 611 participants from the APAC region, whose responses are detailed in this report. Additional reports will become available from the HireRight website, covering other vertical and/or geographical breakdowns of the survey results.