May news …Rise in Vacancies…Drop in candidate availability.

Key Points:

  • Continued rise in permanent placements;
  • Growth of demand for staff picks up for the first time in nine months;
  • Steeper decline in candidate availability triggers greater rises in pay.

Permanent placements…

There has been an increase in permanent placements but the rate of expansion in April was the softest witnessed in 2018. The growth of placements was underpinned by a further substantial rise in demand for staff and greater job vacancies.

Decline in candidate availability…

The rate of reduction in candidate availability for permanent roles has quickened to a three-month record. The steepest decline was in the South of England.

Growth of demand for staff…

Vacancies for permanent roles have increased, thereby indicating that there is a greater demand for staff. This demand was higher in the public, as compared to the private, sector.

Pay pressures…

There has been a further rise in starting salaries for candidates placed into permanent roles. This has been linked to candidate shortages and a robust demand for staff. The strongest rise was in the South of England.

 

Commentary 

Demand for staff is still on the rise in every other sector, but candidate availability keeps dropping. Employers are paying more to attract the right people into their vacancies. For individuals, now is a good time to look for a new job, as you are in a strong position to negotiate higher pay. For employers, the challenge is to stay ahead of the competition to maintain and enhance your workforce. This is about more than just pay, it is about providing progression opportunities and a positive workplace culture. As recruitment gets harder the only solution for employers is to get better at attracting and retaining the right skills and staff…

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