Report on UK Jobs – November 2016

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 November are:

Staff appointments rise at faster pace

Permanent staff placements continued to rise in November, with the rate of growth quickening to its sharpest since February. Temporary/contract staff appointments also rose at a quicker pace, with the rate of growth reaching a seven-month high.

Demand for staff remains robust

The latest survey pointed to further strong demand for staff, with employee vacancies rising at steeper rates for both permanent and temporary roles.

Faster decline in candidate availability

The availability of staff for filling job vacancies continued to fall during November. Latest data pointed to the fastest decline in permanent staff availability for eight months, while temporary staff availability also dropped at a quicker rate.

Stronger rates of pay growth

The rate of growth in permanent starting salaries edged up to a six-month high in November. Short-term pay rates also continued to rise, and at the fastest rate since August.

Commenting on the latest survey results, REC Chief Executive Kevin Green says:

“The jobs market is ending the year on a high with appointments and vacancies at levels not seen since February. In all parts of the UK recruiters are reporting increasing demand, so clearly businesses continue to seek growth in their workforces.”

“The main concern as we look forward to 2017 is an increasing skills shortage. The UK employment rate is at a record high and jobs are going unfilled in key areas. We need engineers to deliver infrastructure projects, carers and nurses to look after our ageing population, teachers to educate our young people, and right now we are short of warehouse workers, drivers and chefs to meet demand over Christmas.”

“In the longer term, improving hiring and training of young people via apprenticeships will help to ensure that employers develop a pipeline of people with the required skills. But there is an immediate need which must be met now so that businesses can thrive.”

“Talent shortages will be exacerbated if the government imposes restrictions on people coming to the UK from abroad. This might result in businesses considering options such as offshoring or relocation abroad; this is a risk we cannot afford.”