According to the latest KPMG and REC, UK Report on Jobs survey, recruitment activity across the UK has remained strong in April. Ongoing candidate shortage is weighing on overall business growth; as recruiters even we have struggled to fill a number of roles. Although easing slightly from the previous month, the deterioration in total candidate supply remained high in April. The companies who are able to hire to their requirements are the ones we have worked closely with to create a robust recruitment plan.
April Recruitment Insights
- In the last week of April, there were 1.81 million job adverts in the UK, up by 7% from a week earlier and 15% from a month earlier
- In the same week, there were 173,000 new job adverts posted in the UK
- Almost all occupation areas recorded at least marginal increases in job adverts compared to the previous week
- Notable increases in adverts for sales jobs
- Starting salary inflation holds close to a record high
- Labour shortages lead to a slower rise in staff placements
- Demand for staff remains robust
(Data collected April 11-25 by REC)
Reduction in candidate availability and vacancies still rising
We have experienced a tight labour market due to the hesitancy of candidates to seek new roles due to the pandemic and geopolitical uncertainty.
The number of job placements being made is still growing but at a more stable rate – growth is now at its lowest level for a year. This is not surprising, given how strong the market has been. Employers need to get their offer to candidates right and the positioning of the role on point if they are going to succeed in this market.
The number of new job adverts being posted has stabilised, there were roughly 173,000 new postings in the last week of April, a healthy level of activity in comparison. The rising number of active postings reflects job adverts being left open for longer, with employers across the country struggling to attract candidates for their vacancies.
The number of new job postings has remained consistent for the past few weeks, despite concern about rising inflation also indicating that some firms are struggling to hire. That makes it a great time to be looking for a new role, and for employers, I repeat, they should look closely at all aspects of their offer to the candidate and consult with a recruitment experts to make sure they get the quality of the sales force they require.
Why having a recruitment plan is so important?
Every business is feeling the squeeze, everyone is working harder than ever to hire skilled staff. Labour and skills shortages will be with us for sometime, so long-term workforce planning is even more important. Workforce planning means different things to different businesses – I mean planning to have the right people, at the right time, in the right place for the growth of your business. This is easier said than done, so seeking expertise in this area is key.
The pandemic shone a light on some of the realities of the labour market and increased levels of economic inactivity. We need to think logically about how we break the cycle of skill shortage – we need to see businesses and the government working in conjunction with industry experts. As well as our education system preparing the future workforce and effective programmes to give candidates an opportunity to up-skill and re-skill at any stage in life.
It is time for us to realise that our people are our most valuable asset and be proactive with our recruitment and workforce planning not reactive.
It is gloomy and overcast in Yorkshire today, but my hopes are high that together we can achieve your business goals. If you would like to speak with me about how to create a robust recruitment plan, please feel free to contact me with any concerns or support you require with recruiting your sales force.
As we head into the weekend and hopefully the Summer, I wish you and your family a bright and sunny weekend. May is a busy month for my family and I as we celebrate the birthday of my father and brother. It’s a month where I pay absolute homage to the hero my father is and how he has inspired my entrepreneurial journey. He is the reason today that Citrus Connect Recruitment and I can support our clients achieve most if not all of their head count and business growth goals.
Best Wishes,
CV DROP OFF