Staff shortages drive up Cape Town salaries

RECRUITMENT
companies report a
shortage of senior
consultants in the Western
Cape that has resulted in
sharp increases in salary
offerings, which are now on
a par with Johannesburg
remuneration packages.
Canvassed Western Cape
agents report that it is taking
them months to replace
consultants, putting severe
pressure on understaffed
reservations teams in this
region.
Lee van Dyk, HR executive
for Quantex HR Specialist
Consultancy, says the
shortage of Cape Town
consultants became
apparent toward the end
of 2016. “Companies are
waiting four to five months
while they try to replace
staff. While a year ago an
average salary for a top
consultant was around
R20 000 plus commission
this figure has jumped up
to over R25 000 this year.
We recently placed a senior
consultant at a salary of
R32 000, an unheard of
figure!”
There is a definite shortage
of qualified consultants
in the Cape at junior,
intermediate and senior
level, says Cindy Dyamond,
gm of Sure Travelways. Cindy
attributes the shortage to
the growth in the ITC market
and confirms that all four of
the Travelways offices have
been struggling to fill posts
for the last three years.
Sam van Gool, gm of
Peopleworks, the FCTG
HR division, says FCTG’s
Cape Town and surrounding
offices have been struggling
to fill vacancies this year.
Sam says the shortage is
particularly apparent for
seniors. Likewise, Brian
Singer director of the Singer
Group and of XL Travel, says
there is an oversupply of
junior consultants at the
bottom end of the market
and an undersupply of
seniors at the top end of the
market.