According to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation’s (REC) most recent JobsOutlook report, confidence regarding hiring and investment among UK employers increased 15 per cent over the course of the three months to April 2021.
This figure, the highest since June 2016, points to the positive impact that the easing of lockdown restrictions and the success of the UK’s COVID-19 vaccination programme is having on sentiment among UK employers.
The report found that, while short and medium term intention to engage temporary workers remained steady (+18 for short-term hiring, +21 for medium-term), attitudes towards temporary work have increased positively as a result of pandemic, rising net +9 according to the REC.
Among employers who had engaged freelancers, contractor workers or temporary agency workers, 15 per cent said they were more likely to hire these workers going forward as a result of the pandemic. This was compared to just 6 per cent who said they were less likely to hire temporary or freelance workers.
Commenting on the report’s finding, REC Chief Executive Neil Carberry said: “The signal from business is clear in this latest data, confidence is back. The opening up of the economy was already feeding firms’ belief in themselves, but now it is also generating greater confidence in the whole of the UK economy amongst employers.”
“Job creation is taking off, currently recruiters are more likely to say their key challenge is candidate shortages in sectors like IT and driving, rather than the effects of the COVID recession.”
Carberry added: “Business leaders and recruiters across the economy want to work with the government to make sure we can get people to the new jobs that are being created. That means investing in new skills pathways and careers advice, enabled by a reformed Apprenticeship Levy. But it also means the new immigration system must effectively support the economy, helping fill shortages and keep goods flowing.”
