The Report on UK Jobs is unique in providing the most comprehensive guide to the UK jobs market, drawing on original survey data provided by recruitment consultancies and employers to provide the first indication each month of labour market trends.
The main findings for June are:
Staff appointments increase at softer pace
Permanent placements continued to rise sharply in June, despite the rate of expansion easing slightly since May’s 25-month peak. Growth in temp billings also softened in June, but remained steep overall.
Demand for staff holds close to May’s 21-month peak
Demand for staff continued to rise in June, with the rate of growth staying close to May’s recent peak. This was despite both permanent and temporary vacancies rising at slightly weaker rates than in the previous month.
Salary growth fastest for over a year-and-a-half…
Permanent starting salaries rose at a sharp and accelerated rate that was the fastest in 19 months in June. Growth in hourly pay rates also quickened since May, and reached a six-month record.
…as candidate availability continues to decline
The pool of available candidates for both permanent and temporary roles continued to shrink markedly in June. While the number of permanent candidates fell at a slightly softer pace than in May, the supply of temporary labour deteriorated at the quickest rate in 18 months.
Commenting on the latest survey results, Tom Hadley, REC Director of Policy says:
“With fewer people currently looking for jobs, employers are having to increase starting salaries to secure the talent they need. This is creating great opportunities for people with in-demand skills who are prepared to change jobs, but it’s also putting unsustainable pressure on many businesses.”
“Existing skills shortages are being exacerbated by Brexit. For example, demand for accountants and other financial roles has increased recently as organisations try to protect themselves against economic uncertainty. London alone employs almost 200,000 EU nationals* in these roles. Policies which make it more difficult to recruit and retain these people will put business growth at risk.”
“Investment in training the domestic workforce is vital to the long-term health of the UK jobs market, but it won’t allay employers’ fears about losing access to workers from the EU. The government needs to outline a five-year roadmap for post-Brexit immigration policy to enable businesses to plan effectively, and so the UK economy can flourish.”
*London has 191,400 EU nationals working in the financial and businesses services sector – Building the post-Brexit immigration system, REC (July 2017)