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Strong growth of permanent staff placements and temporary staff billings was reported by recruitment consultancies to have reflected a further 'robust expansion' of demand for staff in September. Indeed, the rate of growth of demand for staff signalled by the Report on Jobs Vacancies Index was the fastest since April 2001. Rising workloads and improved business confidence at clients were frequently cited by consultancies as the main factors underlying strengthening demand. Demand rose markedly for all main types of employee, unfortunately with the exception of temporary Executive/Professional staff, which registered only a marginal decline. Further evidence of rising demand for staff was highlighted by an increase in national press recruitment advertising for the second month in a row in August. Placements and billings rise at the fastest rates since February 2001 The number of people placed in permanent jobs by recruitment consultancies in the UK rose for the fourth successive month in September, as did average weekly billings received from the employment of temporary and contract staff. In both cases, the rates of growth were the strongest since February 2001. Private sector employment rises at a faster rate. The rising number of permanent staff placements contributed to an expansion of actual private sector staffing levels, for the second month running in September. However, despite being the fastest since March 2001, the rate of growth of employment was modest. Rising skills shortages The availability of staff to fill vacant positions at employers was unchanged in September, after a twenty-seven month period in which staff availability had improved. The fact that staff availability failed to improve during the month was generally reported by recruitment consultancies to have reflected a rising number of skill shortages, related to increased demand for staff. Pay pressures Certain skill shortages coupled with strong demand, is reported by consultancies to have placed upward pressure on pay rates in September. The rate of increase of salaries awarded to people placed in permanent jobs remained modest, but nevertheless was the fastest since June 2002. Meanwhile, the rate of increase in temporary staff hourly rates of pay was the fastest since August 2001. Commenting on the latest report findings, Brett Walsh, Head of UK Human Capital at Deloitte & Touche LLP reported that: "The latest Report on Jobs survey provides welcome news that employment growth is strengthening as the economic recovery in the UK gathers pace and shows signs of greater sustainability. However, with the war for talent clearly picking up, firms are already finding pockets of skill shortages which, if sustained, will add to recruitment difficulties and exert further upward pressure on wages and salaries over the coming months." Oct 7, 2003 Email this article Printer friendly page Previous Page
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