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3 minute read

Business recruitment intentions strengthen in Q2 of 2019

The latest Quarterly Recruitment Outlook from the British Chambers of Commerce, in partnership with Totaljobs, finds that recruitment intentions strengthened in the second quarter of 2019, while difficulties finding suitable staff eased, but remain high by historic standards.

Based on the responses of over 6,500 businesses of all sizes and sectors, the report indicates that demand for labour remained strong in the second quarter, despite a subdued economy. Overall the proportion of UK firms attempting to recruit in the second quarter of the year rose from 53% to 60% with the manufacturing sector slightly ahead of this average at 64%.

64% of UK manufacturers attempted to recruit staff during Q2 of 2019 and 30% say they will increase staff numbers in the coming three months / Picture: Getty/iStock

 

The percentage of firms reporting difficulties hiring the right staff fell from 73% to 64%, although the figure remains high by historic standards and stands at critical levels in a number of sectors outside of manufacturing and engineering, such as construction (77%) and hotels and catering (74%).

Looking ahead, 30% of UK manufacturers say they plan to increase their workforce in the next three months, this in line with the UK-wide trend from this latest survey. 63% of manufacturers say their headcount with remain constant. Unfortunately, 7% say they expect workforce levels to decrease during the next quarter.

As the report indicates, the jobs market is showing its resilience, despite sluggish economic growth and ongoing uncertainty. BCC highlights that the current scale of labour shortages can’t be sustained in the long-term and the fall in hiring difficulties this quarter is encouraging but also underlines that, to achieve a prolonged decrease, the new government must put reform of the skills and training system at the top its agenda. BCC says it wants to see a coherent and long-term plan to stabilise the skills system, and for those struggling to hire locally, an efficient and cost-effective route to recruiting overseas workers at all skills levels.

Claire Walker, Co-Executive director at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: “In the face of sluggish growth and political uncertainty, the jobs market has been a positive for the UK economy. The quarter saw a pick-up in attempts to recruit and an easing of recruitment difficulties, although levels are high by historic standards and remain a cause for concern.

“Demand for seasonal workers, many of whom have traditionally come from the European Union, highlights the importance of the new government quickly setting out a sensible post-Brexit immigration policy, that reflects the needs of different sectors and regions in the UK.

“The solution to plugging the UK’s skills gap in the long-term includes reforming the skills education and training system, and giving it time to bed-in. We look forward to working with the new administration to get the system working better for everyone and ensuring firms can access the skills they need to improve growth and productivity.

“To sustain the strength of the labour market, businesses also need clarity on how they will be able to manage their future workforce requirements in the years to come and broader certainty on economic conditions after October 31st.”

Patrick Wehrmann, CEO of Totaljobs, added: “The labour market continues to weather economic uncertainty, with the vast majority of businesses showing a continued commitment to maintaining or increasing staff headcount. In fact, just 7% of employers expect their workforce to decrease as we head into Q3.

“Notably, while the figure remains high, the proportion of firms reporting a skills shortage has decreased – falling from 73% to 64% in just three months. However, with almost two-thirds of employers still struggling to find the talent their business needs to thrive, this thawing should not be considered as mission accomplished, but rather an opportunity to build upon.

“As a consequence of not only an increasing national living and minimum wage, but also a continued challenge to recruit, it is telling that Q2 2019 saw the fastest rise in real-wage growth in over three years, outpacing inflation and expert predictions. As employers look to attract their next hire, there is an opportunity for people possessing in-demand skills to make significant progress in their career and begin to realise their earning potential.

“In light of this, employers should be mindful of their employer value proposition, and ensure that while salaries remain competitive, they consider more than just pay as a solution to overcoming skills shortages.”