Given the current economic turmoil, the cost-of-living-crisis and the rise in inflation, it’s understandable that people may be thinking twice about moving jobs at the moment. Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t! Many employers are now experiencing very low applicant numbers to their job advertisements, which begs the question “Where have all of the candidates gone?”
Recently released statistics bear this out. At the time of writing the UK employment rate is 75.4% and is still below pre-coronavirus pandemic levels. The labour market remains strong, with the number of job vacancies in June to August 2022 at 1,266,000 and vacancies still above pre-pandemic levels.
This strong recruitment market is proof that companies are still hiring. In fact, unemployment is at a record low and the demand for candidates in many sectors is high. However, the number of ”active” candidates (those actively looking for work) has dropped again, so the answer to the question “are jobseekers going to be even harder to come by?” is a resounding “yes!”. The real question is: how are companies going to recruit?
Organisations will have to think outside the box. Job adverts won’t even be seen by those who aren’t looking for a new role. Instead, it’s better to invest your time in recruiting “passive” candidates; those who aren’t even thinking of looking for their next job.
Right now in the UK, only 30% of workers are actively looking for their next role. That leaves 70% of skilled candidates off the table, who could (and should) be contacted. Passive recruitment isn’t difficult; after all, it’s simply reaching out to someone and starting a dialogue. But, it requires time, consistency, dedication, and tact. Start by using LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to locate passive and active applicants. When it comes to filling positions, social media recruitment might be your best chance.
You might also consider initiating a referral scheme. Each of your employees has a network of passive and active candidates among their friends, past coworkers, and acquaintances; both active and passive jobseekers are far more likely to reply to a trusted friend than to a recruiter.
Passive recruiting is a great way to find your next perfect candidate. In 2020, one survey found that 44% of employers had specifically targeted passive candidates for their job vacancies in order to help overcome recruitment difficulties. Shouldn’t you join them?
The post pandemic recruitment market has become increasingly difficult, with many employers now finding that traditional recruiting methods are no longer attracting the right candidates. Employees’ requirements have changed, and there are fewer jobseekers available across most sectors.
Plus One have been bringing people and jobs together since 2005, and because our Recruiters have the industry-leading tools and expertise to market your company as an attractive employer, we are able to introduce you to both passive and actively-searching jobseekers. Find out more and get in touch with us today.
