In 2022, market recovery drove strong hiring demand of sales and marketing professionals across healthcare, retail, and digital segments.
The healthcare industry saw many organisations looking towards leaner structures, while multinational companies investments into healthcare. As a result, there was a high demand for local leadership talent, says Srisakul Thunwuthikul, Senior Manager of Sales & Marketing (Healthcare, Retail, and Digital & e-Commerce), Robert Walters Thailand.
Expansions in physical retail businesses prompted the launch of new formats in the hypermarket segment, driving strong hiring for skilled talent to support the growth. Companies also started focusing on strategy to mitigate impact from potential recessions or future unexpected crises, with initiatives to focus on local customers or expand into other business segments.
Tech giants saw uncertainty and slowed down investments, froze hiring, or laid off staff in 2022. That led to candidates becoming more open to start-ups and other segments, such as in the digital spaces of FMCG and retail where these companies sought to expand in-house online teams. Due to the high demand of skilled talent in digital sales and marketing, candidates were observed to stay at their companies for approximately one to two years before looking for other opportunities, adds Srisakul.
Read on as Srisakul shares her expectations of the labour market and hiring trends for sales and marketing professionals in 2023, with a focus on healthcare, retail, and digital and e-commerce segments.
Active hiring demand across all segments
In 2023, expansions will continue to drive hiring demand for sales and marketing professionals. In healthcare, there will be demand for local talent in management positions focusing on country-level lead roles. New innovative products will spur more candidates’ interest, along with new set of hybrid skills expected from companies. Companies will be looking to fill roles in healthcare policy, technical and commercial leadership.
Srisakul expects sales and marketing talent hired in healthcare to be offered larger salaries as they are increasingly hired for organisations with flat structures and less layers of hierarchy. “For such roles, talent with soft skills such as adaptability, growth mindset, strong strategic and analytical thinking will be sought after.”
In the retail space, businesses will be focusing on customer experiences and value CRM strategies. Companies will be on the lookout for retail managers, CRM managers, and heads of marketing who are able to adapt to new skills and will also be open to candidates from other industries.
In the digital space, Srisakul expects data to be integrated into commercial roles more than ever. This would lead to an increase in hybrid marketing roles such as performance marketing and data or CRM and data.
Companies will be looking for skilled talent in performance marketing, and leadership in digital marketing and e-commerce, says Srisakul. At the same time, professionals experienced in online ads optimisation and media planning will continue to be sought after.
Focus on career growth to retain and attract talent
To retain and attract sales and marketing talent in these segments, she recommends companies look into flexible work policies and clear career development plans for employees.
“In particular, existing employees and potential candidates will be looking at whether organisations are able to support their career growth or provide recognition,” shares Srisakul, as these are sought after by sales and marketing talent in Thailand.
Companies looking to attract top talent will also need to ensure compensation and benefits offered are competitive. “For potential job movers in retail, they may be looking at up to 30% increase in salaries,” she adds.
Look into flexible work policies with clear career development plans for employees.
Salaries to grow in 2023
Salaries for sales and marketing professionals in healthcare, retail, and digital segments are expected to increase in 2023. For the digital and e-commerce space, 2023 may offer lower increments compared to the previous year due to the economic downtown, market uncertainty, and increase in available candidates in the market.
However, Srisakul shares that higher salary increases above market rate can be expected for top talent and candidates moving from direct competitors.
Find out more
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