In order to trim costs and utilise existing resources, some employers are giving their middle and senior management staff responsibility for up to two-and-a-half jobs, according to the Financial Recruitment Group (FRG).
"One of the trends we're starting to see which is interesting is some people are taking responsibility for up to two jobs, some times even two-and-a-half jobs in the short-term," FRG state manager of New South Wales Conor Donoghue said.
"So we've seen some middle and senior managers that have been promoted or that have moved sideways ... and they've taken some of the portfolio from their old job as well as leadership accountabilities into their new role."
Other cost cutting initiatives which are set to continue in 2009 include headcount freezes, redeployment of internal staff and not re-filling vacant positions.
Such moves may have been untried by some employers before and have been spurred by the slide in revenues caused by the global financial crisis, Donoghue said.
"When times are difficult businesses at all levels may need to make decisions around staff numbers, how to remain competitive, and what they need to do to stay viable," he said.
"So they may try new things including new business models or changing people's positions around and their responsibilities internally."
Calls from ex-patriots and foreign workers in foreign countries looking for jobs in Australia or assessing the state of the economy had risen, Donoghue said.
He said financial planners, paraplanners and business development managers may find it easier to get a job as businesses look to build market share amid the economic downturn.
