If you’ve taken a walk down the high street recently you might have been struck by the sheer number of signs in shops and offices advertising their many open positions for staff. At first, this might not seem strange. After all, we’re all still dealing with the aftermath of the pandemic. But when you start looking at statistics, an interesting story develops.
The current unemployment rate in the UK is 3.8%, which is one of the lowest rates since 1974. With so many people in work, why is it that businesses can’t seem to find the staff? Let’s look at another statistic: in January 2022, there were an estimated 1.45 million temporary workers in the UK. This number increased to 1.6 million in June. Of those 1.6 million, only 403,000 said they were temporary because they couldn’t find a permanent job.
The vast majority? They are temporary workers because they want to be. So, although unemployment levels remain historically low, businesses are still finding it difficult to recruit for permanent roles and the number of temporary workers continues to rise. What does this tell us?
It tells us that employment has changed, and businesses have to adapt. Many workers are happy to only work on a temporary basis, in roles which are giving them the flexibility they are looking for, as well as having the chance to gain experience and skills.
This can be a real positive for companies, as hiring temporary workers can bring a lot of benefits. Firstly, you can quickly fill a role at short notice for a short period, which is wonderful in case of emergency. Using a temporary worker also saves you money as there are no holiday pay or pension contributions to worry about. Using a recruitment agency to hire temporary workers also means you’re getting the best candidates who have already been vetted, and if the candidate doesn’t work out, you can quickly and easily replace them. Temporary workers are also great in volatile markets when you’re not sure when you’ll need to bring on more staff to finish a big project or campaign, or when you need fewer workers during quieter times. In these unpredictable days, temporary workers give you the flexibility you need to stay competitive.
If you’re looking to fill a short term position in your company then Plus One can find you who you need. Plus One can recruit temporary staff in Sales, Procurement and Supply Chain, Marketing and Creative, Accountancy and Finance, and Business Support across a range of seniority levels encompassing different responsibilities.
As members of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC), we seek to uphold the high industry standards set out by our association. Whether you are looking to recruit temporary staff into your business, or searching for a new temporary job, we are here to help you.
