Latest findings show that the number of white collar jobs fell last month, with placements also dropping as firms struggle to recruit.
The report, compiled by the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) using data provided by Bullhorn, revealed that permanent vacancies fell 19% between January and February while contract roles also dropped 14% during the same time frame.
According to APSCo, these latest figures highlight the difficulties across the highly skilled labour market, with employers struggling to fill open vacancies and reigning in new hiring as a result.
Ann Swain, Global CEO of APSCo, commented, “While we are seeing job numbers falling, businesses are still struggling to recruit as was made abundantly clear in the Chancellor’s Budget announcement. APSCo has warned of the pressures on the highly skilled labour market for some time and given that these skills take time to develop, we have called for more immediate solutions to support the long-term national strategy.
“Plans for reforms within childcare support, changes to pensions caps, better support to help those with a disability into employment, ‘returnships’ and skills boot camps will all deliver longer-term solutions. But the immediate challenges are the more pressing concern. The UK needs to hold its own as a globally attractive destination for international contractors and the self-employed – a standing that hasn’t yet been achieved and won’t without immigration reform and a review of Off Payroll.
“With the OBR predicting that the UK will avoid entering a technical recession this year, the demand on the labour market is only going to increase over the course of the next few months. While the Chancellor’s Budget had a promising focus on removing barriers to encourage people into employment and upskill the country, these solutions are focused on the long-term, not the immediate need.”
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