A recent REC report has shown that umbrella company contractor, freelancer and permanent placements have all grown, although at a slightly slower rate.
The latest Recruitment and Employment Confederation’s Report on Jobs, has found that although jobs growth has slowed, umbrella service contractor and freelancer pay rates have in fact increased at moderate rates during March.
According to the results, Nursing/Medical/Care was the most in-demand category for the fourteenth consecutive month. Contractors in the engineering/construction sector might also have found themselves in demand during March, as these were also highly sought after sectors.
Both public and private sector vacancies continued to rise for contractors; demand within the public sector increased for the first time in three months. Increased temp billings were found in the Midlands, North and London.
REC chief executive Kevin Green said, “The government needs to build the talent pipeline for the future by increasing funding for apprenticeships in sectors where there is demand, refocusing the Work Program to train people who have potential but who lack the skills to fill current vacancies and driving take-up for existing schemes like the Youth Contract.
“Persistent skills shortages in these areas (IT and engineering) could have a disastrous impact on critical infrastructure projects, especially if employers can’t find the talent they need to jump-start new ventures in energy, transport and construction.”