Headhunters reveal which skills are most in demand.
“We can feel it. Definitely. Now, the last two months, it’s been really crazy. I think we will have some interesting months ahead of us,” said Thomas Bakke, CEO of the headhunters in Seafood People, to SalmonBusiness.
The recruitment company from Bergen, Norway, notices that there is high activity in fishery and fish farming now. Many players are gearing up, and then they need competent labor.
Temperature
“Recruitment reflects the rest of the industry – and is a temperature gauge of how things are going. We notice it’s a little easier to get acceptance for things now.”
What qualities and qualifications are particularly in demand?
“One thing that has struck me lately: Marketing and branding have been in demand. And I find that interesting for an industry that has been trading driven. We now have a head of marketing for Nova Sea that we are hiring. And we are doing a head of marketing for Baja Aquafarms in Mexico, which is exciting.”
“The fact that they take branding and communication seriously is exciting – and probably you do too,” said Bakke, who established Seafood People in 2015.
Land-based fish farming
“Otherwise, it is an massive impact on everything that goes on RAS (recirculating aquaculture system – ed. note) and land-based cases. It is not to hide. And then there are still a lot of operational positions, of course.”
“And it also gives hope for new business students that there is actually a future in the industry,” he added.
“RAS competence. There will probably be a shortage in the next few years,” agreed Øyvind Kråkås in consulting firm Havbrukspartner.
After a year with Covid-19, it seems that there is a “catching up effect” in the job market.
Willingness to invest
“A lot is happening now, we have many requests for assignments, at the same time as there is good interest from employees. People want to work in salmon! Young and experienced,” he said.
Kråkas also noted that the job market is quite cyclical.
“For positions that are not aimed at daily operations, it depends on optimism and willingness to invest in the industry. Corona and the associated uncertainty have probably created a delay in new hires and job changes,” Kråkås continued.
