Leading global entrepreneurs still look to recruit

Despite tough economic times, the world's leading entrepreneurs have shown remarkable resilience and continue to be positive about their future recruitment plans, according to the EY survey - Global job creation. Based on the answers of 200 former EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® (EOY) winners, the research highlights that 78% of the entrepreneurs said they intend to increase their workforce at home or abroad in 2013. 

The study showed that 73% of women entrepreneurs are planning to increase their headcount this year, compared to 69% of men entrepreneurs. 78% of the surveyed entrepreneurs, both men and women, said that the determining factor in terms of their hiring plans for 2013 is growth in their products and services.

Women entrepreneurs also express more confidence in the economic direction of the countries in which they are headquartered - 88% feel positive compared to 71% of the men. This optimism about the future is reflected in the 49 Entrepreneur Of The Year winners. Despite the challenging global economy in the last three years these individuals have collectively doubled their revenues to US$40b and expanded their headcount by 40% to over 200,000. 

Maria Pinelli, Global Vice Chair, Strategic Growth Markets at EY says: "In the past year, the world's best entrepreneurs have shown remarkable resilience in the face of sharply variable business conditions throughout the major global markets. While macroeconomic risks such as the Eurozone crisis, a slowdown in emerging markets growth and the US budget impasse have added to investor uncertainty, the world's leading entrepreneurs are still looking to recruit in significant numbers.”

Entrepreneurs continue to recruit experienced workforce

When entrepreneurs were asked what kind of jobs they were creating, 51% said they created roles for "experienced (non-management) personnel”, while only 14% said they will recruit at "entry level with a degree” and 26% at "entry level with no degree.” 

2013: The year of productivity 

A significant change this year is that entrepreneurs are making sustainable investments in productivity. Although the percentage of entrepreneurs saying they continue to hire to enter new markets remains the most popular response (74% in 2012, 63% in 2013), the number of respondents saying they are recruiting specifically to boost production has increased significantly from 28% in 2012 to 45% this year.

Bogdan Tenu, Senior  Manager, Transaction  Advisory Services department says about the Romanian environment: "In our market, business leaders are not as optimistic, 26% expect an increase in the number of employees this year, while 55% of them will not hire in 2013, according to the EY Romania study A Vision For Growth, conducted in mid-2013". According to another recent study, for Romanian employers looking to hire new people, the right attitude, the quality of professional skills and emotional intelligence make the difference.

About EY Romania

EY is one of the world's leading professional services firms with approximately 167,000 employees in 700 offices across 140 countries, and revenues of approximately $24.4 billion in 2012. Our network is the most integrated at global level and its vast resources allow us to help our clients benefit from every opportunity. In Romania, EY has been a leader on the professional services market since its set up in 1992. Our over 450 employees in Romania and Moldova provide seamless assurance, tax, transactions, and advisory services to clients ranging from multinationals to local companies. Our offices are based in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Iasi and Chisinau. For more information, please visit www.ey.com.