Again the last 2 weeks have seen a major increase in market activity and senior executive assignments globally.

The emphasis of the vacancies has still been for the same industries and disciplines, but overall much more volume and more spread of industries, disciplines and geography.

The question now is whether, as a result of pent-up demand, it will get back close to normal or even exceed normal shortly.

The market recovery started earlier in Canada, but now the US market is certainly starting to move, not least in commercial real estate investment as those in retail and office space look to pivot their assets into warehousing and broader industrial usage.

However an interesting trend is that during lockdown both employers and executives have increasingly recognised that executives do not need to live and work in the same place.

The knock-on effect is that lower tax States such as Texas and Florida, are increasingly attractive to business start-ups as well as executives seeking tax efficient compensation.

There is demand in Fintech and Tech industry generally, FMCG/ Retail, Agriculture, Sustainability, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Automotive and Healthcare with a tendence towards PE involvement, commercially orientated CFOs, NEDs and business leaders. Whilst Hospitality remains dead Domestic Tourism is booming.

In Eastern Europe the market recovery is being delayed due to the slow vaccine rollout, many businesses being too uncertain of their future to make changes in their executive leadership.

There is lots of activity in the Middle East in Consumer and Industrial sectors, recruiters are now seeing a lot more demand in PR, Communications and Marketing and there are signs of recovery in Mining across EMEA generally.

In Africa recovery started sooner than in Europe, certainly FMCG food production is buoyant and markets generally are looking good moving into spring.

All the pointers are that Executives could be wise to regard African employment markets more positively for the next few years than we have done for the last few decades.

The population has an average age of 19.7, including 300m middle class citizens and half a billion have been wired on mobile phone services in the last 2 years in sub-Saharan Africa alone. China in particular is taking a major interest in promoting modernisation and commerce and the AFCFTA free trade area is removing 90% of bilateral tariffs over 8 years, to name but a few pointers.

China is back to normal, which is massive expansion and the rest follows behind, but it is worth noting that Mandarin is becoming more of a necessity for roles in China.

There is not much interest in foreign executives in New Zealand whilst travel barriers persist.

To advance your career think increasingly international.

With a 15,000 strong worldwide Search Consultancy network InterExec is well placed to advise or promote you.