Flexible working is a highly effective tool to achieving better diversity and it should be implemented early in the recruitment stage, says global recruitment firm Hays.

Mastering and integrating new technologies from AI to Big Data is crucial to winning in mainland China’s multibillion dollar life sciences industry, but talent challenges pose a significant obstacle, according to leading global recruitment specialists Hays.

Employers in Mainland China remain cautious about hiring despite growing optimism towards the economy and the business environment, according to recruiting experts Hays.

With the world changing so dramatically over the last year and the uncertainty surrounding 2021, China’s employees and candidates alike should be looking to improve their skill levels to reflect ‘new normal’ working operations. There is also a steadily growing importance attached to work-life balance, meaning that companies are altering working practices in order to attract and retain employees with a more modern outlook.

From a growing demand for live streamers to a boom in online education, digital healthcare, e-commerce and cloud infrastructure – the digital technology sector in China saw significant expansion earlier this year despite crisis conditions. While this has further strained the sector’s severely candidate short market, it has also created opportunities as more companies broaden their requirements to consider candidates from a variety of backgrounds.

While organisations in China continue to brave against the hurdles presented by COVID-19, successful containment efforts have resulted in most businesses operating at full capacity for some time now.

China’s renewed focus on owning technologies and designing products rather than just manufacturing them has led to exciting developments in the space and enormous government support to attract more such businesses.

While most organisations in China have returned to work, returning to the workplace has presented many organisations with novel challenges such as having to redesign the layout of their offices to allow for social distancing, or reviewing the use of common areas such as meeting rooms, receptions, kitchens and toilets. Going forward, offices may not be able to accommodate all employees at once while maintaining adequate social distancing, leading to a large number of professionals continuing to work remotely.

The COVID-19 crisis has ushered in a new era in the world of work that is impacting both jobseekers and hiring organisations.

Strategy and management are essential to leading a company through crisis; but at the heart of any organisation is its people, and organisations around the world have been celebrating the pivotal role that employees have played in tiding their company through unprecedented challenges.