A minute with a staff member...

Name:  

Anne Hatfield

Position:  

Consultant

Specialisations:  

Education, Not-for-Profit, Hospitality and Engineering Administration 

Favourite aspect of working at The O'Loughlin Group:

The tight-knit friendly team here makes coming to work a pleasure. I also enjoy the interaction with other professionals who are passionate about their industries. 

What is one of your most memorable moments:

My wonderful fiance flew me to Melbourne to propose. It was a very surreal moment!

When's the wedding:

November, in Byron Bay and with a honeymoon in Fiji to follow.

Hobbies:

Reading, shopping and cooking.

Michael and Anne on the night they were engaged. 

The  

O'Loughlin

Report

Dear

Well we finally have it... a Carbon Tax, that is! The Gillard Government has finally delivered what I think will initially be, more uncertainty for the Australian economy. The timing of this is unfortunate to say the least, as we are still counting the cost of the floods and Cyclone Yasi. IN all of this, it has become apparent that we are dealing with a dual economy where the resources and energy jobs markets are active and the rest of the market is tentative. Clearly with the instability of the US economy and the precarious position of the European market, which some analysts predict as the second wave of the GFC, people are saving their money and not spending; facts which are supported by recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data. Our savings are at 25 year highs and retail spending is at a level which is causing some concern for pundits, as this is one of the primary accelerators for economic growth. A direct result of this is seen in the impact that it has on hiring decisions for uncertainty is almost a self-fulfilling prophecy: Without optimism we don't spend. Without spending there is limited economic growth. Where there is no economic growth, organisations stop hiring!

Conversely the energy and resources markets are suffering from a skills shortage and the challenge here is equally as daunting. Projects are not brought in on time or on budget, and invariably there are cost blow outs associated with hiring and engagement as organisations must competitively source staff from limited candidate pools. As if this wasn't enough of a trying situation, I learnt on the weekend that one of the largest contractors in this country (and I'm sure they are not alone) is suffering at site as they cannot negotiate housing for longer than 12 months at a time. This comes as a result of home owners who are reluctant to be tied up with long term leasing arrangements when housing is in such short supply. This in affect is gouging at profits, and further exasperating the plight of this industry which now, on top of it all, has the carbon tax to contend with.

We live in challenging times...