Swiss HR services to increase investment and innovation in China

Swiss human resources services provider The Adecco Group (TAG) will continue to increase its investment and innovation in China by providing more upskilling and reskilling services into the local labor market and introducing more novel employment models in the country, said the company's China CEO Ni Ying.

Ni made such comments during the 6th China International Import Expo held in Shanghai from Nov 5 to 10, in which TAG took part for the first time. While TAG's CEO Denis Machuel visited China in July, the company was invited by Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng to attend the CIIE, said Ni.

As Ni explained, the human resources industry globally is undergoing the transition from client-based to candidate-centric. Candidates thus have to improve their own value to find the right jobs.

By referring to the mature training systems in developed economies like Switzerland, TAG would like to work closer with the Chinese employers to come up with more upskilling and reskilling services. Such services are not only in line with China's efforts to further integrate education and industries but also conducive to the country's industrial development, he said.

According to TAG's Global Workforce of the Future Report released in early October, the penetration rate of artificial intelligence is as high as 84 percent in the workplace in China, much higher than the global average of 70 percent. But less than half of the Chinese employees are using generative AI under the guidance of their employers, which means that there is much room of related training services, said Ni.

Meanwhile, new business models are reshaping the job market, with flexible staffing one of the best examples. The cost advantage of flexible staffing will serve as one of the core competencies for companies, which will help drive their growth. Therefore, TAG would like to team up with industry leaders and the local governments to come up with new flexible staffing models in China which can help protect employees' rights and improve companies' efficiency, he added.

Adecco, LHH and Akkodis, the three major business brands under TAG, are all present at this year's CIIE with their respective human resources solutions.