KEY POINTS FROM SURVEY

Nationally

Permanent placements and temp billings continue to rise, but not as sharply as previous months.
Candidate availability deteriorates at steeper pace.
Robust demand for staff leads to further marked rises in pay.

For The North

Strong demand for staff drives starting pay higher as candidate numbers fall
Permanent job vacancies increase at sharpest pace in ten months.
Steepest decline in jobseekers for permanent roles in year to date.
Starting pay inflation among the strongest in four years.

CANDIDATE SHORTAGES CONTRIBUTE TO SLOWER RISE IN STAFF APPOINTMENTS IN JUNE

Neil Carberry, REC Chief Executive says:

“It’s a great time for people looking to take the next step in their careers, as employers compete for new staff in a tight market. It is a candidate’s market out there.

Across the majority of sectors, both temporary and permanent opportunities are growing and a lack of candidates means it is no surprise to see starting pay also rising.

Recruiters report that some of this high vacancy rate may be driven by good demand from companies not being matched by candidate willingness to move in the face of the current economic uncertainty.

The one sector that stands out as in a different place is retail. Placements are stagnating as the sector reshapes quickly, driven by changing customer demand and stiff competition. But the type of customer service skills retail workers develop are in huge demand in other sectors and the sheer size of our retail sector means there are still opportunities in store.”

DEMAND FOR STAFF BY SECTOR

Permanent Staff

June survey data signalled that permanent staff placements increased for the twenty-third month in a row, though the rate of expansion softened to the least marked since last October. Nonetheless, growth remained sharp overall, with exactly one-third of panellist noting higher permanent staff appointments.

According to anecdotal evidence, greater vacancies and robust demand for staff supported the latest upturn in permanent placements. However, low candidate availability was widely cited as having restricted the rate of growth.

The Midlands saw the steepest expansion of all four monitored English regions, while the weakest upturn was noted in London.

June survey data indicated that permanent staff vacancies rose across all ten monitored job categories. IT & Computing and Engineering led the overall upturn in demand for permanent workers. The weakest in vacancies was seen for Retail.

IT/Computing

Engineering

Accounting/Financial

Executive/Professional

Nursing/Medical/Care

Secretarial/Clerical

Hotel/Catering

Construction

Blue Collar

Retail

Temporary Staff

Agencies’ billings received from the employment of temporary/contract staff rose further in June. Though sharp, the rate of expansion was the slowest recorded since March. Reports from panellists linked higher temp billings to rising activity levels at client companies.

Growth of temp billings was strongest in the North of England, while the weakest increase was registered in the South of England.

Blue Collar topped the rankings for demand for short-term staff during June, followed by Nursing/Medical/Care. The only sector to not register demand for temporary workers was Retail, as vacancies stagnated.

Blue Collar

Nursing/Medical/Care

Engineering

Hotel & Catering

IT/Computing

Secretarial/Clerical

Accounting/Financial

Executive/Professional

Construction

Retail

SKILLS IN SHORT SUPPLY

Key Permanent Staff Skills

Accountancy/Financial: Accountants, Audit, Credit Control, Estimators, Finance, Risk, Treasury, Underwriters.

Blue Collar: Crane Operators, CNC Operators, Forklift Drivers, HGV Drivers, LGV Drivers, Manufacturing/Warehouse Staff, Production Managers, Welder.

Construction: Architects, Construction Workers, Quantity Surveyors.

Engineering: Aerospace, Aviation, Design, Drainage, Electrical, Engineers, Managers, Mechanical, Technicians.
Executive/ Professional: Compliance, HR, Legal, Legal Secretaries, Litigation, Marketing, Project Managers, Science.

Hotel/Catering: Baristas, Chefs, Hospitality.

IT/Computing: Automation Testers, C#, CAD, Cyber Security, Data, DevOps, Digital, Gaming, GDPR, IT, Java, .Net, Oracle Fusion, PHP, ScrumMasters, Software Engineers, Technology, UI/UX Designers, Web Developers.

Nursing/Medical/Care: Care Workers, Healthcare Assistants, Home Carers, Home Managers, NHS Non-Medical Staff, Optometrists, RGN’s, Support Workers.

Secretarial/Clerical: Administration, Office Staff.

Other: B2B Sales, Buyers, Customer Services, Debt Recovery, Foreign Languages, Graduates, Media, Sales, Telesales, Travel Consultants.

Key Temp Skills

Accountancy/Financial: Accountants, Audit, Credit control, Finance, Payroll, Risk, Tax, Treasury.

Blue Collar: Blue Collar, Carpenters, Cleaners, Drivers, Forklift Drivers, HGV Drivers, LGV Driver, Labourers, Production, Site Managers, Unskilled Workers, Warehouse Workers.

Construction: Quantity Surveyors.

Engineering: None reported.
Executive/ Professional: Compliance, HR, Insurance, Legal, Marketing, Science.

Hotels/ Catering: Baristas, Chefs, Hospitality.

IT/Computing: Automation Testers, CAD, Cyber Security, Data, Digital, Gaming, GDPR, IT, Java, Oracle Fusion, Software Developers, Technology, UI/UX.

Nursing/Medical/Care: Care Workers, Healthcare Assistants, Home Carers.

Secretarial/Clerical: Accounts Clerks, Administration, PA’s, Receptionists.

Other: B2B Sales, Buyers, Customer Service, Marine Skills, Sales, Telesales.

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