CEO SUMMARY
Alex Seah

宏观角度来看，2023年疫情的结束并未带来预料中的经济复苏。不过伴随着2023年下半年逐渐出台的降低贷款利率以及各地的房地产限购解除等各种利好政策，预计2024年的中国经济将会有强势回暖。

尽管在2023年消费者信心低迷，大众进入消费降级阶段，但政府已采取相应措施，通过降低利率以减少贷款支付，并通过稳定就业，以增加国民可支配收入。同时在文化旅游活动消费的推动下，预计2024年消费者支出也将逐步增加。

经历了三年的新冠疫情封锁后，中国在2023年打开国门，许多中国企业也抓住机会实行出海计划。伴随着越来越多中国企业的扩张战略，尤其是在亚洲，我们预计随着东盟和中国之间的贸易创下历史新高，这一出海趋势将在2024年继续下去。

而紧随宏观趋势的雇佣市场，我们可以看到随着消费者情绪疲软，各行业正在雇佣更多的销售人员以增加企业的收入。因此各行业热招的前三个职位依然是销售、研发和市场营销。在一个高度不确定的环境中，企业开始将劳动外包纳入其运营模式。与销售和生产密切相关的非核心人员可能会被外包，以换取更大的灵活性来应对需求高峰和停滞期。

在VUCA时代，企业需要的是能够抵御逆境和经济衰退的人才，也就是“T型”人才。他们不仅是自己专业领域的专家，而且精通其他相关领域。“T型”人才可能具有较强的跨部门协调能力，也可能具有与跨行业伙伴合作的经验。那些具有较强的分析能力、创造性、敏捷性和主动性的候选人会受到公司的高度追捧。另一方面，候选人需要不断学习和提升他们的领导能力和其他软性技能，以确保他们在市场上保持竞争力。

Firstly, from a macro perspective, After the lifting of COVID control measures in 2023, the economic recovery did not live up to expectations. However, the economy is expected to recover strongly in 2024 as the reduction of prime lending rates in China and the lifting of property control measures in the second half of 2023 start to take effect.

Consumer confidence was low in China in 2023 with consumers downgrading their spending practice. The government has taken measures to reduce loan payments through lower interest rates and increase disposable income through ensuring stable employment. Driven by an increase in cultural and tourism activities, we expect consumer spending to increase gradually in 2024.

After being suppressed for 3 years during COVID, many Chinese companies took the opportunity to expand overseas when China lifted travel restrictions in 2023. We expect the trend to continue in 2024 as more and more companies expand internationally particularly in Asia as trade between ASEAN and China reached a record high and will continue to increase.

Secondly, regarding the employment market, with soft consumer sentiment, companies are hiring more sales professionals to boost revenue. The top three positions that companies are hiring are sales, research & development and marketing. In a highly uncertain environment, companies are beginning to incorporate outsourcing in their operating model. Non-core personnel that are strongly correlated to sales and production are likely to be outsourced in exchange for greater flexibility to counter demand spikes and lull periods.

In a VUCA environment, companies are looking for candidates that are able to withstand adversity and economic downturns. Employers are also looking for “T-shape” talents who are not only experts in their own specialization but also conversant in other related areas. “T-shape” talents may have strong inter-department coordination skills or may have experience working with cross-industry partners. Candidates that have strong analytical skills, creative, agile and proactive are highly sought after by companies. On the other hand, candidates need to continuously learn and upgrade their leadership and other soft skills to ensure that they remain competitive in the market.