Employers Defy Economic Uncertainty to Continue to Hire Despite Low Business Confidence

New data from the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) shows that employers’ confidence in the UK economy remains low, with confidence levels now at net: -26 – a fall of 1 percentage point from the previous rolling quarter.

The REC’s latest JobsOutlook report shows that despite low confidence levels in the economy, employers are still looking to hire. Forecast demand for permanent staff increased to net: +19 in the short-term and net: +21 in the medium-term in May-July 2019, compared to the net: +16 and net: +18 recorded in the previous quarter (February-April 2019).

However, almost half (46 per cent) of employers of permanent staff expressed concern about finding enough suitable candidates for hire, with Health & Social Care skills being the area they were most concerned about being able to access. This should sound alarm bells as 45 per cent of public sector employers reported having no spare workforce capacity at all.

Tom Hadley, Director of Policy and Campaigns at the REC, said:

“Our flexible labour market continues to be one of the strongest elements of the UK economy. This most recent survey shows employers are still looking to take on both permanent and temporary workers as they seek to maintain stability amidst the Brexit uncertainty. More employers also seem to be trying to transfer their best temps into permanent roles as candidate shortages continue to bite across many sectors.

“These skills shortages are especially acute in sectors like health and social care. With over 100,000 vacancies in the NHS and staff already working at full capacity, the government’s recent announcement on ending freedom of movement has come at the worst possible time. EU workers are an integral part of our health and social care system and the UK workforce as a whole. It is essential that the government has in place a sensible transition towards an evidence-based immigration policy to help reassure employers and EU citizens.”

Other key points from the latest JobsOutlook include:

• Short-term forecast demand for temporary agency workers also increased from net: +2 in February-April 2019 to net +5 this quarter (May-July). Demand was much higher among SMEs than large organisations.

• Almost eight in ten (77 per cent) employers highlighted that they have little or no surplus capacity in their workforce this quarter. That includes 45 per cent of public sector employers who reported having no spare capacity at all.

• The proportion of employers of temporary workers transferring at least half of them into permanent posts each year increased from 15 per cent in May-July 2018 to 23 per cent in the same time period this year.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:  

JobsOutlook is produced by the REC in partnership with ComRes. ComRes interviewed 609 UK employers involved in hiring by telephone between 7 May and 25 July 2019. Data was weighted to be representative of UK adults in employment by region, broad industry sector and public/private split. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Data tables are available at www.comresglobal.com.

Press enquiries:

For more information, contact the REC Press Office on 0207 009 2129/2192 or pressoffice@rec.uk.com. An ISDN line is available for interviews on 0207 021 0584.

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The REC is all about brilliant recruitment, which drives our economy and delivers opportunity to millions. As the voice of the recruitment industry, we champion high standards, speak up for great recruiters, and help them grow. Recruitment is a powerful tool for companies and candidates to build better futures for themselves and a strong economy for the UK. Find out more about the Recruitment & Employment Confederation at www.rec.uk.com.