May 2013′s Report on Jobs compiled by KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has shown a rise in the demand for permanent staff, particularly in the Engineering and IT job sectors. In addition, for the first time since 2001, starting salaries have also increased for the 12th month running. Such promising findings are a welcome breath of fresh air, following the onslaught of depressive media coverage we have faced over the past 18 months. As Bernard Brown, Partner and Head of Business Services at KPMG comments: “Negative news on the jobs front has been so commonplace in recent months that it has almost become a cliché. The latest figures, however, hint at a positive turn with permanent placements accelerating, the rate of demand for permanent staff remaining solid and average starting salaries continuing to rise”.
Higher starting salaries and an increased number of permanent vacancies being filled reflects the growing confidence of businesses, as well as alleviating fears that falling unemployment rates are solely due to the fulfilment of the ill-labelled ‘wrong type of jobs’, namely part-time and self-employed positions.
Such findings are encouraging, yet there is still some way to go. While vacancies for permanent staff in the IT sector may be opening, recruiters are finding it difficult to source candidates who are equipped with the high level skills clients require. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly urgent for programmes to be developed, which will assist workers to cultivate the skills the job market is currently lacking in. As Brown notes, ”these positive signs should not be taken as a signal that we are reaching the proverbial pot of gold at the end of a rainbow . . . the reality is that there are likely to be storm clouds ahead before the employment rainbow will really be allowed to shine”.
Mike Beesley, CEO at RSG
Such findings are encouraging, yet there is still some way to go. While vacancies for permanent staff in the IT sector may be opening, recruiters are finding it difficult to source candidates who are equipped with the high level skills clients require. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly urgent for programmes to be developed, which will assist workers to cultivate the skills the job market is currently lacking in. As Brown notes, ”these positive signs should not be taken as a signal that we are reaching the proverbial pot of gold at the end of a rainbow . . . the reality is that there are likely to be storm clouds ahead before the employment rainbow will really be allowed to shine”.
Mike Beesley, CEO at RSG
