Queen Elizabeth II
1926 - 2022
All at Aspire Jobs are deeply saddened by the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II and send sincere condolences to her family and pay tribute to her character, wit, kindness, wisdom and many decades of duty to the British people
This month we are focussing our attention on helping business owners and HR teams build resilience in their recruitment processes.
Surviving tough times in recruitment
The recruitment market has been candidate-driven now for over 18 months, difficult to believe that we have come out of a pandemic straight into a market where, at all levels, and for all roles companies are struggling to recruit.
Trust me, I know, as I see it day in and day out.
Don’t get me wrong, people are moving into new roles but (and I sound like a broken record) they have a choice, in fact, they have multiple choices, they are moving off the market so quickly – sometimes within 24 hours of uploading their CV. Candidates can afford to be choosy and if the salary, benefits, or culture doesn’t fit their values then they move on to the next job offer.
I have never known anything like it in over 30 years of recruitment.
Some of the reasons we have encountered at Aspire Jobs include:
- During the pandemic, people have reassessed their lives and many have decided to look at their work/life balance and go part-time or retire early
- For the same reasons many people have set up their own businesses coming out of covid
- A lot of Europeans have returned to their countries and can’t get back into the UK due to Brexit
- There are generally more jobs on the market
- More people have taken on caring duties for elderly relatives
- Benefits culture – I’ve said this before and it's controversial, but UC applicants aren’t being forced to look for work - it’s a major problem for Dorset but also for UK PLC
- Some candidates are looking for hybrid or fully remote roles – not all businesses are able to offer this
- More people can work from home meaning they can work for city-based companies that can afford to pay more but the candidate still stays living locally – local salaries can’t compare with London salaries as an example
- The cost of living is starting to have a real impact on people’s decision to move roles seeking higher salaries
- The cost of fuel/travel is a deciding factor for many when looking at moving jobs – does the company offer flexibility such as working from home?
We are seeing some businesses curtailing growth plans due to recruitment issues; ultimately this will have a knock-on effect on the economy. We’re also beginning to see pay rates increase, with starting salaries rising in the last 6 months resulting in a difficult balancing act for employers trying to attract and retain staff!
Of course, there are elements that are out of business owners’ control:
- The spiralling cost of childcare is a major barrier for people to return to work after maternity leave
- Locally we all know and experience the infrastructure issues around our roads and lack of public transport where it’s needed – getting to Bournemouth Airport is a classic example!
- The cost-of-living crisis with inflation at an all-time high - over 10%
- The war in Ukraine and its continuing effect on our spiralling energy and fuel prices
We’re waiting in anticipation to see how our new Prime Minster Liz Truss addresses the major issues facing our country right now, her announcement to cap household energy bills has been somewhat lost in the news of the death of the Queen but will be a welcome relief to many families who were wondering just how to makes ends meet in the coming winter months.
Survival of the fittest…
It’s down to us, as business owners, to really challenge the way we think about recruitment:
- Recruit on personality and culture fit – skills can be taught for most roles
- Put people planning at the top of your agenda and to-do list. A lot of business owners talk about staff as their most important asset and that means moving the item up the agenda and focussing on it properly not just a knee-jerk decision when someone gives their notice in
- Realise the value of recruitment experts like Aspire Jobs, they know the local marketplace, can give advice on salaries, job titles and descriptions, and help with candidate attraction
As for the financial difficulties we face as a nation, I haven’t got any pearls of wisdom to share with you as there is no easy answer. I know it won’t be forever but getting to where it will get easier is going to be a rough ride for everyone. I thought this article Cost of Living Crisis 7 Ways an Employer can Support Employees had some interesting points in it to consider.
Also in my research for this article, I stumbled across this Help Guide Surviving Tough Times by Building Resilience and I thought it worth sharing as if it helps just one person – that could be a client or one of their employees who is struggling, then it has been worthwhile…
The impact of the financial challenges we face as a nation will undoubtedly take their toll on business, which in turn may well affect the recruitment market – at least this month the market remains candidate-driven, in the next 3 months we could well start to see a change – I’m not scaremongering here, rather echoing what you as business owners are probably already thinking.
Business owners must avoid complacency, now, tomorrow and in the turbulent times to come. Looking after your current employees, and paving the way for new ones takes careful management. Aspire Jobs will be here, by your side with you all the way.
As ever, I am here to support you and if you need any help or advice with your recruitment practices, please do drop me a line.
Helen
[email protected]