SMEs are recruiting at faster rates than their larger rivals, according to a research released today by Manpower, the UKís leading workforce management company.
Independent research of 2,140 UK businesses conducted by NOP reveals that a balance of 16% of medium-sized businesses and 15% of small businesses intend to increase their headcount in the three months to September 2005. This compares to a balance of 11% of large businesses and 9% of micro-sized businesses.
Ruth Hounslow, Head of Communications at Manpower, said: For the fourth quarter in a row, SMEs are expressing more recruitment optimism than large companies. This is good news for UK business as a whole, as they represent the majority of British companies. However, due to their often smaller recruitment functions, SMEs can be hit hardest by skills shortages in the market place. Because of this, recruitment and retention should be high on any SMEís list of priorities.
Stephen Alambritis, chief spokesman for the Federation of Small Businesses, said: Small and Medium Sized Enterprises are the job creators of the UK economy. They employ well over half of the UKís private sector workforce and have in recent years mopped up jobs lost in large companies. They are also viewed as attractive places to work with graduates regularly placing them above large firms as ideal employers to work for.
SMEs continue to fuel UK jobs growth
SMEs are recruiting at faster rates than their larger rivals, according to a research released today by Manpower
