More than four-in-five small employers (with less than 50 staff) involved in the survey reported shortages of candidates (81.5%). Despite a year of slower economic growth and lower overall hiring, this shows that the UK jobs market is still struggling to meet employers’ demand. The challenge facing policymakers and employers is to stop these ongoing candidate shortages constraining the economy if economic growth returns this year. A total of 57.1% of medium-size employers (50-249 staff) and 66.7% of large employers (with 250+ staff) reported shortages of candidates, which suggests that they are also challenged – but finding better routes to cope.
Neil Carberry, REC Chief Executive, said:
“Companies reporting persistent hiring difficulties comes as no surprise to us at the REC. Too few firms have appreciated that – despite slow growth – our jobs market has changed fundamentally. Only 9.5% of firms told us they were looking to temps, freelancers and contractors to help. Yet support from agencies on both temporary labour and innovative routes to hiring permanent roles are vital to getting the people a business needs now.
“A good recruitment partner is no luxury – and small firms in particular can benefit from the specialist skills they bring. As well as helping with reaching new pools of candidates, and innovative flexible options, agencies can deliver great support and advice to their clients. What matters, though, is that businesses understand that buying on value rather than lowest price matters – cutting costs in recruitment processes is a highway to failure.
“For too long, the debate within businesses and with governments about productivity, production design and workforce development has been sterile. That has to change if the economy is to reach its full potential and boost prosperity, public services and incomes. Our REC manifesto Dynamic Labour Markets for Growth sets out some key steps that can be taken in the upcoming Budget – we don’t even need to wait for an election.”
This survey is important because of acute shortages of workers across the UK, with 1.7 million active job postings in December 2023. And with REC’s Overcoming Shortages report finding that a 10% surge in demand for staff across the economy, and the labour market restricted by shortages, could lead to a 1.2% fall in expected GDP and productivity by 2027 – costing the economy anywhere between £30 billion and £39 billion every year. This figure is just short of two whole Elizabeth Lines
The REC/Savanta survey of different size employers across the UK in private and public sectors was conducted by telephone between November and December 2023. The survey asked a total of 167 employers of different sizes, places and in private and public sector ‘How, if at all, has your attitude towards temporary agency workers, freelancers and contractors changed because of ongoing candidate shortages?’
