News
Survey shows modest uplift in recruitment Firms stepped up their recruitment in the last three months of 2020, but overall hiring levels remained well below pre-pandemic levels. Those were key highlights of the latest British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Quarterly Recruitment Outlook (QRO) compiled in partnership with Totaljobs. The research showed that 41% of firms attempted to recruit in Q4 last year, up slightly from 37% in Q3 but below prepandemic levels of 55% in Q1. Firms in the public, voluntary and construction sectors were most likely to recruit, while hotels and catering firms were the least likely to take on additional workers. Only 22% of hotel and catering companies attempted to hire new recruits – down from 30% in Q3 – reflecting the impact of forced closures under the national lockdown and tiered restrictions on their revenue and cashflow. However, the impact of the pandemic is also being felt by businesses that haven’t been required to shut their doors. Businesses in the marketing and media sector, for example, were the second least likely to recruit (33%). With 44% of these firms reporting decreases in sales in the quarter, QRO data demonstrates the economic impact of continued restrictions in the supply chain or in reduced budgets. Looking ahead to the next quarter, 19% of firms expect an increase in the size of their workforce, 68% expect it to remain the same (up from 62% in Q3), and 14% expect a decrease. Claire Walker, BCC co-executive director, said: “Our data shows the extremely difficult
circumstances facing many businesses across the UK. “With many sectors facing major difficulties in retaining and recruiting staff, the Chancellor must immediately provide assurances that support will last for the whole of 2021 to enable firms to plan ahead. That starts with extending the Job Retention Scheme until a full reopening of the economy is possible. “Proposed reforms to further education, putting the skills needs of businesses at its heart, are welcome and will enable more people to train and retrain for jobs of the future. “The vaccine rollout provides genuine light at the end of the tunnel – but it is essential that government provides the support that ensures that businesses survive the current crisis and are ready and able to power an economic recovery, creating new jobs when the time comes.” Totaljobs CEO Jon Wilson said: “The vaccine rollout has given businesses and people hope, but there is still a way to go. Many sectors remain in a challenging position and have put hiring on pause, while others are able to accelerate their hiring to meet demand. “Throughout the difficulties of the pandemic, a real positive has been the increasing determination from jobseekers to take their careers into their own hands, focusing on their personal development by proactively upskilling. Totaljobs research found that 30% of workers acquired a new skill or qualification last year.”
“Looking ahead to the next quarter, 19% of firms expect an increase in the size of their workforce, 68% expect it to remain the same (up from 62% in Q3), and 14% expect a decrease.”
LCCI backs travel testing policy London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has welcomed the government’s move to embrace a pre-departure testing policy for all international arrivals to England. All arrivals, including UK nationals, are required to present a negative COVID-19 test taken up to 72 hours prior to departure. LCCI had called for the government to embrace such a policy, but Richard Burge, chief executive, warned: “This announcement may well be complementary to the lockdown period, but beyond that it will do little to aid the economic recovery of London and the UK, unless the accompanying self-isolation requirement ends. “Government must work side by side with the travel industry to evolve this policy for when lockdown ends.” The government policy also stipulates that all passengers arriving from countries not on the government’s travel corridor list will be required to self-isolate for ten days, regardless of their test result. Passengers will still be required to fill in a passenger locator form and be subject to national lockdown restrictions. Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “We already have significant measures in place to prevent imported cases of COVID-19, but with new strains of the virus developing internationally we must take further precautions. “Taken together with the existing mandatory self-isolation period for passengers returning from high-risk countries, pre-departure tests will provide a further line of defence – helping us control the virus as we roll out the vaccine at pace over the coming weeks.” There will be a limited number of exemptions from the new rules, including hauliers, children under 11, crews and those travelling from countries without the infrastructure available to deliver the tests.
Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 23
