- Outlook of 10% for the region, the highest level in the UK
- However, employers approach permanent hiring with caution
- Older candidates securing positions without difficulty
This is the ninth consecutive quarter where hiring intentions in the region have outperformed the national average Employment Outlook.
The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey is based on responses from 2,104 UK employers. It asks whether employers intend to hire additional workers or reduce the size of their workforce in the coming quarter. It is the most comprehensive, forward-looking employment survey of its kind and is used as a key economic statistic by both the Bank of England and the UK government.
Krissie Davies, Operations Director at Manpower, said: “Today’s survey results are great news for candidates in the East. Employers are very keen to take on new staff in temporary positions but they are taking a more cautious approach towards permanent roles, prolonging the interview process and sometimes retracting job advertisements, much to candidates’ frustration. Older candidates seem to be securing more permanent roles, and we’ve seen a rise in applications from candidates in the 50-plus age group. In Peterborough, there are lots of new vacancies, particularly in customer service and call centres. However, finding new people for these positions can prove challenging as the pool of candidates is fairly limited. Many have already worked for certain employers before and are looking for a new challenge.”
“Employers are investing in a range of techniques to attract and retain the best talent. Many are focused on improving their brand image, and we're seeing more demand for marketers and graphic designers across the region. Other employers are asking our advice on how to attract and retain staff through training and development programmes. Some employers are simply having to offer more competitive salaries, particularly in places like Cambridge, where pay is the biggest incentive for candidates to switch roles.”
The national seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook has risen to +7% for the first three months of 2017, the highest level of optimism in three years. Across the country the private sector plans to hire at its highest rate in three years (+8%), with the construction (+9%), business services (+9%) and utilities (+13%) sectors all reporting very positive Outlooks.
Mark Cahill, ManpowerGroup UK Managing Director: “UK companies are going into 2017 hungry for top talent. Employers are still unsure about what exactly Brexit will mean, but are not letting that uncertainty deter them from hiring. In fact, some employers may be looking to bring in talent while they can before any curbs to freedom of movement across the European Union come into effect, as more than half of all the jobs created by UK employers this year went to EU workers.”
All twelve regions of the UK reported positive Outlooks for the first three months of the year, with only two regions reporting a decline in hiring optimism. The East is the most positive region (+10%), followed by London (+9%). Yorkshire & Humberside reports the biggest increase, rising nine points to join the East Midlands, West Midlands, South West and Scotland on +8%. Northern Ireland reported a five point increase to +4%, while the North East and South East both report two point rises to +7% and + 5% respectively. The North West (+3%) and Wales (+2%) are the only two regions to report falling Outlooks, both down two points on Q4 2016.
A ‘Net Employment Outlook’ is calculated by subtracting those employers who plan to reduce staffing levels from those who plan to hire staff. A positive result indicates that more employers plan to increase rather than decrease staffing levels; a negative result reflects the opposite. [% increase - % decrease]
Commentary and full details on every sector and region can be found in the survey report at manpowergroup.co.uk/meos, or by calling the Press Office on 0207 404 5959/ [email protected]
About the Survey
The world leader in innovative workforce solutions, ManpowerGroup releases the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey quarterly to measure employers’ intentions to increase or decrease the number of employees in their workforce during the next quarter. It is the longest running, most extensive, forward-looking employment survey in the world, polling nearly 59,000 employers in 43 countries and territories. The survey serves as a bellwether of labour market trends and activities and is regularly used to inform the Bank of England’s Inflation Reports, as well as a regular data source for the European Commission, informing its EU Employment Situation and Social Outlook report the Monthly Monitor. ManpowerGroup’s independent survey data is also sourced by financial analysts and economists around the world to help determine where labour markets are headed.
About ManpowerGroup
ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN) is the world’s workforce expert, creating innovative workforce solutions for nearly 70 years. As workforce experts, we connect more than 600,000 people to meaningful work across a wide range of skills and industries every day. Through our ManpowerGroup family of brands – Manpower®, Experis®, Right Management® and ManpowerGroup® Solutions – we help more than 400,000 clients in 80 countries and territories address their critical talent needs, providing comprehensive solutions to resource, manage and develop talent. In 2016, ManpowerGroup was named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the sixth consecutive year and one of Fortune’s Most Admired Companies, confirming our position as the most trusted and admired brand in the industry. See how ManpowerGroup makes powering the world of work humanly possible: www.manpowergroup.com
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For further information, please contact:
Brunswick – Miranda Ward 020 7404 5959
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: #MEOSUK
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