September 2017 Newsletter

KEY POINTS FROM SURVEY

Nationally

Permanent placements rise at weakest pace for 5 months.

Growth in temp billings also moderates slightly

Candidate shortages continue to drive up pay rates.

For The North

Permanent staff appointments rise but growth eases considerably in September

Sharper reductions in candidate supply for permanent and temporary roles.

Rates of inflation for starting salaries and temp pay remain elevated.

SOFTER INCREASE IN STAFF PLACEMENTS AS CANDIDATE AVAILABILITY DROPS MARKEDLY

As always, we work closely with the Recruitment Employment Confederation and IHS Markit to continually explore what is happening month by month within the employment market. Following, are the most recent findings.

Commenting on the latest survey results, Kevin Green, REC Chief Executive, says:

“Recruiters are finding it even harder to find people to fill vacancies. Candidate availability has been falling for the past four years and the record high UK employment rate plus a slowdown in the number of EU nationals coming to work here is exacerbating the situation, potentially leaving roles unfilled

Across the UK permanent placements are slowing, but London is faring worse with placements declining for the first time in eleven months and the financial sector in particular struggling to recruit for roles such as audit, payroll and risk.

Low-skill roles are also hard to fill in areas like food processing, warehouses and catering – sectors that employ a higher proportion of people from the EU than others across the economy. We urge the government to ensure any new immigration system includes provisions for low-skilled and temporary workers so that warehouses, supermarkets and restaurants can access the people they desperately need.”

DEMAND FOR STAFF BY SECTOR

Permanent Staff

The number of people placed into permanent job roles continued to increase in September, thereby stretching the current sequence of growth to 14 months.  Though solid, the rate of expansion was the slowest recorded since April.  Evidence provided by panellists indicated that strong demand for permanent staff across both new and existing clients supported the latest upturn.  However, there were some reports that a lack of suitably skilled 

On a regional basis, growth of permanent placements was the most marked in the Midlands and the South of England. London meanwhile signalled a renewed drop in permanent placements albeit marginal.

Accounting/Financial was the most sought after category for permanent staff in September, followed by IT & Computing. The slowest (albeit still marked) increase in vacancies was reported for Construction.

Accounting/Financial
IT/Computing
Engineering
Executive/Professional
Secretarial/Clerical
Blue Collar
Nursing/Medical/Care
Hotel/Catering
Construction

Temporary Staff

UK recruitment consultancies continued to signal a sharp rise in billings received from the employment of temporary/contract workers at the end of the third quarter. This was despite the rate of growth moderating to a three-month low. Furthermore, over 38% of respondents registered increased temp billings, with a number of firms noting stronger demand for part-time workers in the latest survey period.

The quickest rate of temp billings growth was seen in Scotland, closely followed by the North of England. The weakest upturn was registered in London.

Blue Collar achieved first place in the rankings for temporary/contract staff demand during September, while Nursing/Medical/Care scored second place.  All remaining categories also saw steep increases in demand.

SKILLS IN SHORT SUPPLY

Key Permanent Staff Skills

Accountancy/Financial: Audit, Accounts, Finance, Para-planners, Payroll, Risk, And Treasury.

Blue Collar: CNC Machinists, Drivers, Forklift Drivers, HGV

Drivers, Production Managers, Welders.

Construction: Quantity Surveyors.

Engineering: Automotive, Design Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Manufacturing Engineers, Technical, Test Engineers.

Executive/ Professional: Account Managers, Advertising, Compliance, Marketing, Project Managers, PR, Managements, and Solicitor’s.

Hotel/Catering: None recorded.

IT/Computing: Automation Testers, Cyber Security, C#, Digital, Gaming, IT, Java, UI/UX Designers.

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

Secretarial/Clerical: Administration.

Other: B2B Sales, Buyers, Chemists, Customer Services, Education, Languages, Merchandisers, Sales, Security, Telesales

Key Temp Skills

Accountancy/Financial: Audit, Accounts, Credit Control, Finance, Payroll, Risk, and Treasury.

Blue Collar: Assembly Workers, Carpenters, CNC Machinists, Drivers, Food Processing, Electricians, Painters, Production Workers, Unskilled Production, Warehouse Workers, Welders.

Construction: Quantity Surveyors.

Engineering: Engineers - All.

Executive/Professional: Compliance, HR, Marketing, Project Managers.

Hotels/Catering: Chefs.

IT/Computing: Cyber Security, IT, Security Cleared Staff.

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

Secretarial/Clerical: Account Clerks, Receptionists.

Other: Customer Services, Languages, Sales, Logistics, Security.

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