JobsOutlook: Hiring confidence on the turn while permanent staffing plans accelerated in August

Employers’ intentions to hire permanent staff in the next three months improved during the summer months. According to the REC’s latest JobsOutlook, short-term demand rose to a net level of +11 in June-August.

The survey’s measures of business confidence – while still in negative territory – have also improved. Confidence in making hiring and investment decisions was at net: -3 in June-August, indicating that the worsening trend of the lockdown has largely petered out. Confidence in the UK economy was at net: -44, showing the majority of employers still believe the economy’s prospects are worsening – but less dramatically than in April-June (net: -57).

Neil Carberry, Chief Executive of the REC, said:

“As public health restrictions were eased over the summer, the labour market started to move. Employers remain cautious and concerned about the future path of the economy – but are much more sanguine now about their own plans. Six months into the pandemic, firms have a clearer sense of how they will navigate the crisis. This is feeding through to the beginnings of a more positive trend on permanent hiring. The number of job adverts in the market has also risen, with steady increases between June and September.

“Last week’s announcements from the Chancellor were welcomed by many businesses. They will help with hard-pressed cash-flows and keeping more people in work. But we will also need a focus on new jobs and transition if we are to avoid long-term unemployment. Reducing employment costs other than wages – like employers’ National Insurance contributions – and more flexible skills funding would help. But the most important thing over the coming weeks and months will be getting the test and trace system running effectively. This is the way to keep the economy going while fighting the virus.”

Other key figures from the latest JobsOutlook include:

• In June-August 2020, 18% of employers reported they had reduced workers’ pay/earnings in the previous 12 months. That’s up from 5% in the year to June-August 2019.
• One in three (34%) employers reported having no surplus capacity in their workforce in June-August, up from 29% in the previous rolling quarter. In August alone, this rose to 39%. This is likely to reflect tighter staffing arrangements as employers managed costs in the pandemic.
• Employers who hire temporary agency workers highlighted their increasing importance in helping to manage fast-changing organisational requirements (56%) and manage uncertainty (42%).
• Almost half (45%) of employers highlighted the importance of trade association membership as a criterion when choosing a recruitment agency partner, up from 37% a year earlier.

Ends

Notes to editors:

1. JobsOutlook is produced by the REC in partnership with Savanta ComRes. Savanta ComRes interviewed 600 UK employers involved in hiring by telephone between 2 June and 25 August 2020. Data were weighted to be representative of UK adults in employment by region, broad industry sector and public/private split. Savanta ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Data tables are available at www.comresglobal.com.
2. The REC’s Jobs Recovery Tracker found that there were a total of 1.21 million job postings in the UK in the week of 14-20 September, a new post-lockdown high.

For more information and interview enquiries, contact the REC Press Office on 020 7009 2157, 020 7009 2192 or pressoffice@rec.uk.com. Outside of regular office hours, please call 07702 568 829.