Scots hiring goes higher

Scots companies look to be going on a hiring spree - and if you've got international experience you'll be laughing.

According to the bi-annual Robert Half Scotland Employment Index, one in four Scots employers intends to up staffing levels over the next six months. Nearly half of employers surveyed - 43% - said they wanted candidates with overseas experience because of their knowledge of different cultures and languages and the fresh perspective they brought to the job.

Phil Booth, regional director of Robert Half Finance & Accounting explains: "As companies expand globally, it is encouraging to see Scottish employers are seeing the benefits of hiring staff who can blend well into different cultures, bring an open minded attitude and have a greater understanding of the world economy to fit in with the changing environment of the international workplace."

But don't expect a pay rise. Just 23% of employers said they expect to increase salaries in the second half of 2007, down from 37% in the first six months of the year.

Margaret Dyer at the Edinburgh office of Joslin Rowe says: "We haven't experienced any real increase in salaries paid now compared to three months ago."

However, she also says she has noticed an increased determination by employers to hold on to good staff: "We have seen an increase in counter-offers in recent months," she adds.