The question that both candidates and clients ask most often is ‘How’s the market at the moment?’ and to be honest it has been best described as ‘sluggish’ for some time now.
It might be obvious to state that the job market follows the economy which hasn’t been exactly on fire but there are some additional factors that have dampened the number of opportunities currently available and these are hitting the young and new entrants in particular. Firstly, the increase in National Insurance last year has made employers more reluctant to expand their workforce and even where they do numbers are limited. Secondly, the adoption of AI within the workplace has meant that a lot of roles that would be ideal for someone gaining their first taste of work no longer exist. It is a great concern that well qualified, good candidates are finding it so difficult to find that first opportunity.
Our Trade Association, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, work with KPMG to compile a regular report on Jobs. In their most recent study they found that permanent placements have continued to decline albeit ‘only slightly’. On a more optimistic note billings for temporary staff had its highest rate of growth for three years in June.
This demonstrates that temporary work remains a reliable route into the workplace for first-time employees and gives candidates a chance to gain experience whilst their permanent job search continues. In the last few years we have enjoyed a number of successes that have followed this path.