• Recruiters
    • For Recruiters
    • About NPAworldwide
      • About NPAworldwide
      • International Recruiters Network
      • Practice Groups
      • Geographic Areas Facilitate Split Placements
      • Split Placement Network Return on Investment
      • Split Fee Network Leadership
      • Governance of NPAworldwide’s Recruiting Professionals Network
      • Meetings & Events
    • About Membership
      • About Membership
      • 9 Reasons to Join NPAworldwide’s Split Network
      • Group Discounts for NPAworldwide Members
      • Join Our Recruiting Professionals Network
      • Cost of Membership in our Split Fee Recruitment Network
    • Recruiting Resources
      • Recruiting Resources
      • Help
    • Find A Member
  • Employers
    • For Employers
    • About NPAworldwide
      • About NPAworldwide
      • How NPAworldwide Works
      • The Benefits of Working with NPAworldwide Recruiters
    • Services
      • Services
      • Recruiting Resources: Contracting Employees
      • Recruiting Resources: Background Checks
      • Recruiting Resources: Pre-Employment Testing
      • Recruiting Resources: Outplacement
    • Links for Employers
    • Find A Member
  • Job Seekers
    • For Job Seekers
    • About NPAworldwide
      • About NPAworldwide
      • How NPAworldwide Works
      • The Benefits of Working with NPAworldwide Recruiters
      • Practice Groups
    • Find A Member
  • Sponsorship Opportunities
  • Job Board
  • Resources
  • Blog
    • Independent Recruiting Blog
    • Press Releases
    • Video Testimonials
  • Ready to Apply?
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • —
  • —
  • —
  • —
  • Job Seeker Resources
NPAworldwide - Global Recruitment Network
  • Recruiters
  • Employers
  • Job Seekers
  • Blog
  • Member Login
NPAworldwide - Global Recruitment Network
Apply Today
  • Navigation
    • Home
    • Recruiters
    • Employers
    • Job Seekers
    • Blog
    • Member Login
    • More
      • Recruiters
        • For Recruiters
        • About NPAworldwide
          • About NPAworldwide
          • International Recruiters Network
          • Practice Groups
          • Split Placement Network Return on Investment
          • Split Fee Network Leadership
          • Governance of NPAworldwide’s Recruiting Professionals Network
          • Meetings & Events
        • About Membership
          • About Membership
          • 9 Reasons to Join NPAworldwide’s Split Network
          • Group Discounts for NPAworldwide Members
          • Join Our Recruiting Professionals Network
          • Cost of Membership in our Split Fee Recruitment Network
        • Recruiting Resources
          • Recruiting Resources
          • Help
        • Find A Member
      • Employers
        • For Employers
        • About NPAworldwide
          • About NPAworldwide
          • How NPAworldwide Works
          • Advantages of Working with NPAworldwide
        • Services
          • Services
          • Recruiting Resources: Contracting Employees
          • Recruiting Resources: Background Checks
          • Recruiting Resources: Pre-Employment Testing
          • Recruiting Resources: Outplacement
        • Links for Employers
        • Find A Member
      • Job Seekers
        • For Job Seekers
        • About NPAworldwide
          • About NPAworldwide
          • How NPAworldwide Works
          • The Benefits of Working with NPAworldwide Recruiters
          • Practice Groups
        • Find A Member
        • Job Seeker Resources
      • Sponsorship Opportunities
      • Job Board
      • Resources
      • Blog
        • Independent Recruiting Blog
        • Press Releases
        • Video Testimonials
      • Ready to Apply?
      • Contact Us
      • Social Media
        • Facebook
        • Twitter
        • LinkedIn
        • YouTube
        • Instagram
      • International
        • —
        • —
        • —
        • —

Global Recruiting Opportunities for Independent Recruiters

by Terri Piersma

We’ve all heard a talent shortage exists. However, do the shortages vary around the world? A 2011 Survey by Manpower answers that question. In January 2011, 39,641 employer interviews were conducted either by telephone or collected online in three areas of the world – the Americas, in Asia Pacific, and in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). My post today will provide an overview of the findings. I encourage you to review the survey results in more detail.

% of Employers Having Difficulty Filling Jobs Due to Lack of Available Talent

  • Americas – 37%
  • Asia Pacific – 45%
  • EMEA – 26%

The percentage for each region increased over 2010 by either 3% or 4%; the percentage for both the Americas and Asia Pacific surpassed the global average of 34%.

Top 3 Countries by Area with Difficulty Filling Jobs Due to Lack of Available Talent

Americas
Brazil – 57%
USA – 52%
Argentina – 51%

Asia Pacific
Japan – 80%
India – 67%
Australia – 54%

EMEA
Romania – 53%
Turkey – 48%
Switzerland – 46%

Top 10 Jobs Employers Are Having Difficulty Filling
The following are the professional / technical positions in alphabetical order that were listed in the Top 10 by employers.

Americas, Asia Pacific, and EMEA
Engineers
Management / Executives
Sales Reps

Americas and Asia Pacific Only
Accounting / Finance Staff

Asia Pacific Only
IT Staff
Research (R&D)
Sales Managers

While this information is interesting, is it important? In other words, who cares? Employers believe key stakeholders (customers, investors, etc.) care and are affected negatively by this talent shortage. More than half of the employers surveyed (57% global average) responded that there was a high or medium impact on key stakeholders. The following shows the percentage total of high and medium impact on key stakeholders by area:

Americas – 61%
Asia Pacific – 54%
EMEA – 57%

What impact does this lack of talent have on independent recruiters? While many exist, I suggest the following:

  • As an independent recruiter, be willing to work with employers outside of your local area.
  • Employers unwilling to work with recruiters during the past four years may be more willing now to seek the professional assistance of an independent recruiter.
  • If you are focused on one niche only, consider changing your niche or adding to your current niche based upon the “Difficult to Fill Jobs” listed earlier in this post.
  • Develop a recruiter networking group of trusted trading partners around the world to assist you with filling difficult jobs and placing candidates who can’t find a job locally.

What other impacts do you see as a result of this survey or from your experience as an independent recruiter?

Posted in: Global Recruiting

  • Explore Membership Split-Fee Sample
  • Subscribe to our Blog
  • Recent Posts

    • Skills Gap and Other Key Issues Facing Candidates in Professional Job Markets
    • AI and the Rise of Resume Fraud
    • Navigating Salary Negotiations with Confidence
    • Mastering the Art of Employer Branding
    • Introducing NPAworldwide PowerUp Conferences
  • Press Releases

    • Taufik Arief of People Search International Receives Prestigious 2025 NPAworldwide Chair’s Award
    • NPAworldwide Welcomes New and Returning Board Members to Drive Strategic Growth and Innovation
    • NPAworldwide Unveils Bold Brand Evolution to Reflect Global Growth
  • Blog Topics

    • Skills Gap and Other Key Issues Facing Candidates in Professional Job Markets
    • AI and the Rise of Resume Fraud
    • Navigating Salary Negotiations with Confidence
  • Quick Links

    • For Recruiters
    • For Employers
    • For Job Seekers
    • Apply Today
  • For more than 60 years, NPAworldwide has been connecting independent global recruiting firms to facilitate split placements. NPAworldwide is the oldest recruiting network of its kind, with an international membership of recruiting firms located throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and the Americas.
    ©2025 • NPAworldwide
    Privacy Policy
    Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility