18 August 2021
Permanent and contract vacancies in the UK show marked increases up 43% and 53% respectively, during the month of July as Covid restrictions continued to ease during the month, according to research from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies and cube19.
APSCo’s data also reveals that, while vacancies for permanent roles dipped by 3% month-on-month and contract vacancies stayed the same, the daily tracking data post the 19th of July, when compared with the first two weeks of the month show that all metrics either held steady or increased.
According to APSCo, revenue for permanent placements rose by 20% month-on-month and held steady on the contract side.
Ann Swain, Chief Executive of APSCo said, “The professional recruitment sector clearly has a major part to play in our continued road to recovery. While the recruitment sector is certainly on an upward trajectory, there are challenges ahead not only relating to the pandemic, but also surrounding the widespread talent shortages that are beginning to impact many sectors as the economy opens up and firms ramp up hiring activity.”
“We wholeheartedly endorse the calls from the CBI that the government must review its post Brexit immigration policy to avoid dire skills shortages and we continue to lobby government to provide a new entry route in the points-based immigration system to allow high value independent professionals to work in the UK on a project-by-project basis,” Swain continued. “We are also lobbying for the retention of digital right to work checks. UK nationals are unfairly disadvantaged by the standard Right to Work check process given that foreign nationals can now have their status checked via the UK Visa and Immigration digital service. A return to face-to-face checks will not only enforce location-based hiring but also exacerbate an already skill short…