THE FIRST-quarter report of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) for 2009 reveals that demand for workers continues to fall, with the most significant decline in the category listed as, 'professionals, senior officials and technicians'.

For the period January to March, the report showed a reduction in the number of vacancies for all occupational groups for the period, compared with the previous quarter, with the 'professionals' category falling by the steepest margin, 64.7 per cent.

A senior labour analyst within the labour ministry said Monday that the shifting industry patterns, as well as restructuring efforts - following an explosive period of employment between 2002 and 2007 - may be responsible for the fall in labour demand for the second straight quarter.

MLSS research for October to December 2008 showed demand for workers falling in the period by just over 35 per cent.

global recession

Positions advertised within that time frame numbered 3,259. In the previous quarter, July to September, a total of 5,071 positions were advertised, compared to a 35.7 per cent decline quarter to quarter.

While the ministry researcher notes that recent changes in the economy, linked to the broader global recession, might be having its own impact, more significant is what is seen as the flattening of organisational structures from traditional hierarchical structures.

The result is that the layered organisation is giving way to simpler structures.

"Hierarchical structures have a lot of senior management with line staff at the bottom," said the ministry.

"In the newer organisations, there are only one or two levels of management and the line staff immediately below. The flatter organisation requires less staff."

Another new shift is the increase in micro- and medium-size organisations, which again require a much smaller staff complement.

What might be also true, the labour analyst noted, was that Jamaican firms, having gone through a round of hirings between 2002 and 2007, now see the need to trim the fat.

"The recession may be a factor, but some enterprises are restructuring based upon overemployment in recent years," the official noted.

avia.collinder@gleanerjm.com