A survey of 570 office professional hiring managers has revealed rather sober prospects ahead for job hunters - but there is some good news. According to joint research from Australian Institute of Office Professionals (AIOP) and Hudson, one in five Aussie employers intends to decrease the number of support staff within their business. It’s not all bad news though, 13 per cent of respondents said they are looking to increase their support staff, proving that work is still out there for the right candidate. Menchie Youla, President of AIOP NSW commented: “In many cases we are seeing employers reducing their costs by consolidating their support function. In essence, asking fewer support staff to take on increased workload and responsibility. Employers should understand that such practices can very quickly deteriorate morale and therefore productivity within a team.”