Receptionist numbers drop 40% in past three years

RECEPTIONISTS have been one of the quieter casualties of the recession, with their numbers dropping 40% since 2008.

Jobs agency Recruitment Plus has found that cost-conscious companies are delegating responsibilities of a receptionist to current staff members. The findings are based on data compiled from live job-boards in the firm’s three nationwide offices.

Recruitment Plus director Anne Fanthom said: “What was formerly an invaluable role for the daily operations of a business has become the first corner to cut. A receptionist is the first point of contact for a company yet some companies seem to have lost sight of their importance.

“Whether the person calling or visiting is new business potential, a regular client, or someone looking for information, their first interaction with your company will colour the rest of their experience.”

Over the past 10 months there has been a downturn in interest in hiring office support staff, and companies are hesitant to hire unless there is an indication of benefit to their bottom line.

Ms Fanthom said: “We’re working constantly with companies to help them rediscover the priceless nature of the receptionist. Options exist such as hiring receptionists on a temporary basis when they can’t afford adding any more permanent members to their headcounts.

“We also offer a payroll service to assist companies who do not want to increase their headcount but rather employ the receptionist or other staff member on a temporary basis and we do the payroll.

“This helps in keeping employment rates in this field as high as possible.”

Meanwhile, an EU-wide study by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and KPMG suggests that many EU companies are revisiting their cost-cutting culling of clerical and admin staff.

In their broadly grim joint report on jobs, the authors cite admin roles as being among the first to show signs of recovery.

KPMG partner Bernard Brown said: “Bright spots in a gloomy data set were rising demand for engineering and construction staff. Demand also rose for IT staff, together with executive, professional, secretarial and clerical categories.”

The Recruitment Plus study suggests that many Irish firms are opting to hire contract staff, with salaries similar to a permanent role but without benefits like pension, healthcare and car parking.

Ms Fanthom said this is positive for the market and a trend that Recruitment Plus sees as continuing in 2012.

“Such style of recruiting is a step in the right direction for many in this sector who may not otherwise have a permanent job, but are happy to work on a contract basis.

“For the typical receptionist post, intensive interviewing and matching skills are used to hand select the best fit to the company.

“Employers are able to attract the high quality service they need, without breaking their budgets.”