In the last year, the recruitment sector has been fairly volatile, with certain sectors cutting back on hiring, while others, such as the tech industry, have seen demand for new roles increase.
The pandemic has created new challenges for recruiters and agencies, leaving many to wonder what lies ahead for the industry.
However, now a new study conducted by leading recruitment platform Monster, has revealed that UK recruiters have a positive on the year ahead.
The Future of Work Special Report includes many valuable insights into the UK and global jobs market through new surveys conducted among both recruitment professionals and candidates.
It has found that 65 per cent of UK recruiters are planning to hire in 2021. This includes more than a third of recruiters hiring to replace job vacancies and 30 per cent expanding to fill new job requirements and roles.
The industry with the strongest demand for recruits in the UK is healthcare, where 89 per cent of recruiters are planning to hire in the next 12 months.
This is followed by manufacturing (77 per cent), technology (69 per cent) and retail (69 per cent), which are all looking to hire as part of expansion plans or to fill existing vacancies.
One of the hardest-hit sectors during the pandemic has been the leisure and hospitality industry, however, 59 per cent of recruiters are expecting to fill new positions in related trades.
Commenting on the research, Derek Jenkins, Managing Director Monster in the UK and Ireland, said: “There is no doubt that the hiring outlook varies by industry and that UK recruiters are the most nervous of job freezes, but what is clear is that many industries continue to move forward and grow, which will no doubt lead to a continued demand for reskilling in the future.”
Finding the right candidate can be a challenge, even during periods with relatively high unemployment, especially for sectors with in-demand skills.
Despite this, 94 per cent of recruitment professionals are positive they will be able to find the best talent for roles, even in high demand industries.
However, the report identifies several areas where skills gaps exist and where candidates are most in-demand, this includes:
- critical thinking (33 per cent)
- communication (26 per cent)
- dedication (20 per cent).
It is not surprising then that a third of recruiters anticipate filtering through an increased number of applications for roles before finding candidates with the required skills – posing a major challenge to the industry in 2021.
Looking ahead, recruiters are investing in new technology to assist with virtual onboarding. The report shows that almost three-quarters of recruiters are already using virtual technology for at least half of all candidate interviews and new-hire onboarding.
As recruitment businesses prepare for the future, they must have the funding needed to invest in their expansion and innovation. Our team understands the needs of this sector and can provide carefully tailored advice to recruiters as they look to rebuild, recover and grow in the months ahead.
To find out more about our specialist advice and support, please speak to our dedicated recruitment team.