New Government Must Prioritise the UK Jobs Market – REC

 

Responding to the results of the UK general election, REC chief executive Kevin Green says:

 

“The nation has voted, however it remains unclear this morning who will be occupying Number 10 or forming our next government. Uncertainty creates a vacuum so we urge the politicians to reach an agreement quickly and to prioritise prosperity and jobs.

 

“Whatever the outcome, the REC will work hard over the coming days, weeks and months to build links with the new government and to make them aware of the positive contribution our industry makes to the UK economy and labour market.

 

“Whoever takes the reigns must front up quickly to challenges including the imminent Brexit negotiations which will shape the jobs market over the next decade. The UK has labour, skill and talent shortages and the evidence points to the situation getting worse before it gets better. Organisations are only as good as the people they hire. In hospitals, schools, start-ups or in larger businesses, employers are deeply concerned about the impact on their business of not being able to find people for the jobs they have available. 

 

“Recruiters are jobs market experts, and we will urge policy-makers to collaborate with the REC and our members to build the best jobs market in the world.”

 

Ahead of the general election, the REC asked 201 employers what they thought should be the new government’s top priority for the labour market, and found:

 

• a third (33 per cent) said the new government should develop a strategy to make sure businesses have people with the skills they need 
  
• one in five (20 per cent) said the new government should agree a post-Brexit immigration system that helps businesses find the people they need 
  
• 11 per cent said the government must ensure that regulations reflect modern working practices. 
  

The REC’s ‘manifesto for jobs’, published in May, set out the professional body’s recommendations for the next government. It called on policy-makers to:

 

• prepare young people for jobs of the future by embedding employability within the school curriculum and aligning the skills market with labour market needs  
  
• introduce a new training levy to help people in non-permanent roles who are excluded from the Apprenticeship Levy
  
• build a pragmatic post-EU immigration system that reflects the needs of businesses in different sectors and regions. 
  

 

Ends

 

Notes to editors:

 

1. The REC’s manifesto for jobs Let’s build the best jobs market in the world is free to download from www.rec.uk.com/recmanifesto

2. In May 2017, ComRes polled 201 employers and owners involved in hiring by telephone, on behalf of the REC:

There will be a general election on the 8th of June 2017. Once in power, which one of the following do you think the new government’s priority for the labour market should be?

Developing a strategy to make sure businesses have people with the skills they need	33%
Agreeing a post-Brexit immigration system that helps businesses find the people they need	20%
Providing more opportunities for UK businesses to grow in overseas markets	14%
Ensuring that regulations reflect modern working practices	11%
Simplifying the tax system for employers	5%
Other	1%
Don’t know	16%

3. Jobs transform lives, which is why we are building the best recruitment industry in the world. As the professional body for recruitment we’re determined to make businesses more successful by helping them secure the people they need. We are absolutely passionate and totally committed in this pursuit for recruiters, employers, and the people they hire. Find out more about the Recruitment & Employment Confederation at www.rec.uk.com