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The Temp is rising

Kate Allen, Executive Chair and Marketing Director, Allen Associates

UK Employers remain mixed when it comes to the economy, but Employer hiring intentions remain very positive, according to recent figures.

The latest JobsOutlook survey conducted by the Recruitment & Employment Condeferation (REC), revealed that although a third of Employers remain downbeat about the current state of the economy, 1 in 4 (26%) believe it is improving.

Indeed, it found that as many as 1 in 5 (19%) of Employers plan to increase their headcount between now and the end of the year – a growth in demand which, according to 59% of Employers, will be met by Temporary agency workers.

However, of the 600 respondents to the survey, more than a third (36%) stated that the ability to find the Temporary worker support they need for their organisations remains a significant challenge.

Commenting on the latest findings, REC chief executive Kevin Green said, “Employers are worried about how they will fill vacancies in the future. There are now just 1.9 unemployed people for every vacancy, and net migration from the EU is falling, which means the pool of people available to employers is shrinking.”

He added, “Businesses can only grow if they have access to the people and skills they need.” This echoes our own findings, too.

Earlier this year, Allen Associates conducted a survey of Employers based in Oxfordshire to gain a greater understanding of their use of the Temporary workforce. We found that 39% of Employers in the region hire between 1 and 5 Temp workers each year, 15% take on between 15-20, and 19% recruit 20-50 Temps. 1 in 10 (11%) Employers in Oxfordshire take on over 100 Temp workers every year.

With unemployment levels in the region currently standing at one of the lowest in the country, it would be interesting to compare the experiences of Employers in Oxfordshire with those across the UK.

Kate Allen, managing director at Allen Associates, said “There are a number of reasons why Employers utilise the Temp workforce – from supporting business growth to change management strategies and plugging gaps that need to be filled quickly.

“The latest figures from the REC highlight the significant role that Temporary workers play in helping Employers to overcome these challenges and the subsequent impact this has not just on their organisations but on the local economy, too.”

Each year, Allen Associates recognises our STAR of the Year – the Temp who has consistently gone above and beyond what is expected of them. This forms a central part of our annual Temporary Worker’s Week – a celebration of all the hard work, commitment and many success stories of the region’s buoyant Temp sector. Look out for our four-page feature in The Oxford Times!