Public Sector to keep hiring

The public sector is continuing to recruit at a stable rate, with many employers expecting their workforce to expand, according to Manpower, the UKís leading recruitment agency.



Manpowerís Employment Outlook Survey, a quarterly report into hiring intentions, shows that the balance of public sector employers looking to take on more staff in August and September has stayed at 15% for the second successive quarter. Not only does this figure present an extremely stable picture, but it is far higher than many parts of the private sector, including services (13%), and manufacturing (9%). The national average is 12%.

Chris Cox, Business Manager at Manpower Victoria, which recruits solely for the public sector, said: At the moment, when you think of public sector recruitment, you think of job cuts in the civil service. However, a look at the big picture shows that public sector recruitment remains buoyant.

Around the country, there is a pattern of recruitment throughout most of the public sector. This is partly due to the movement of civil service jobs away from London, the NHSí need for doctors and nurses, and also the continuing demand for staff in areas such as local government. Even in London, where there have been job cuts in central government, we have seen increased demand for temporary staff.

The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey provides a forecast of employer hiring intentions for the quarter ahead: July to September 2005. 2,100 UK employers were surveyed in the UK and over 45,000 employers in 23 countries globally.

Chris continued: Continued hiring amongst public sector organisations is positive, however public employers need to be aware that they face many of the same issues and problems as their private counterparts - particularly with finding staff with the right skills.

All employers need to closely monitor their recruitment and retention strategies to ensure they can attract and hold onto the right people. Whilst salary and benefits are important, so are things such as career opportunities, work-life balance initiatives, training and development.