Employment Trends Analysis May 2021

As we predicted following last month’s ONS data, the latest employment trends analysis show a significant increase in the number of vacancies – as those sectors that have been, for all intents and purposes, closed during lockdown, now gear up for the future. There were 657,000 vacancies in the 3-month period February – April 2021, marking an increase of 48,400 on the previous quarter.

As we look at the economy there is a lot to be optimistic about. Unemployment rates are falling and while commentators suggest they will start to increase over coming months as further fallouts from the pandemic materialise, for now the message is a positive one.

That said, considering the latest employment trends, any organisation looking to hire right now needs to be mindful that this increase in demand is likely to present some hiring challenges as demand for labour once again outstrips supply.

Indeed, this is already being experienced in some sectors such as hospitality where businesses have struggled to rehire fast enough as they received the green light to re-open post lockdown. Within our key sectors it is evident too with the logistics and driving sector a prime example. An industry already grappling with the effects of Brexit and changes to IR35 now faces up to the fact there have been limited passes for new drivers in the past 15 months.

Therefore, our advice therefore to any business looking to hire right now is around speed. Don’t harbour under the misconception that there is an abundance of candidates out there waiting for opportunities. Skilled workers remain in high demand and short supply so you must act quickly if you wish to secure them.

To read more about the latest labour market data visit https://www.ons.gov.uk/

About Gi Group

Gi Group is one of the world’s leading companies that provide the best services for the development of the labour market. Gi Group is active in the fields of temporary recruitment, permanent and professional staffing, search and selection, executive search, outsourcing, training, outplacement and HR consultancy. Thanks to our direct presence and strategic partnerships in the UK and in more than 57 countries across Europe, APAC, the Americas and Africa, we can guarantee efficiency and quick response.

We are able to assist all clients and candidates, and we have developed strong expertise in large and multinational organisations, for which we have implemented global solutions through specialist divisions and dedicated local and international teams. Gi group are ranked globally as one of the largest staffing firms by Staffing Industry Analysts, and we are also a global corporate member of the World Employment Confederation (formerly CIETT).