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 | Cumbria Times A Voice of the Free Press |
3:59 AM 13th January 2022
business
Record High In Firms Reporting Difficulty Finding Staff
Image: Pixabay
Attempted recruitment in Q4 was up on previous quarters with 64% overall attempting to recruit staff (61% in Q3). However, the proportion of firms reporting difficulties filling roles reached a historical high at 79%, up from 77% in the previous quarter.
In both the construction and hospitality sectors the proportion reporting difficulties was 83%, making them the most likely to report issues.
Marketing and media firms were the least likely to report difficulties at 70% but this remains a high proportion for these sectors historically.
Responding to the findings, Head of People Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, Jane Gratton said: “Once again, the results highlight the ongoing difficulties employers are facing in accessing skills and labour and the risk to our economic recovery.
“The record level of firms struggling to fill job vacancies in the quarter will have impacted on businesses’ ability to meet demand for goods and services - adding to already acute supply chain pressures.
“And now, as the Omicron variant begins to increase staff absences again, many firms could see any growth and recovery they have made slip back to first base.
“More business investment in home grown talent - and creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce - is key to solving pervasive skills shortages, but this won’t happen overnight. Burdened with high levels of debt, escalating wage and input costs, damaged cashflow and an uncertain economic environment, employers need help to get back on their feet.
“The government must do all it can to ensure people can access rapid retraining opportunities for in-demand jobs, issue temporary visas for lower skilled jobs - where there is clear evidence of a national shortage - and ensure there are no further upfront costs on business for the remainder of this parliament.”
“The record level of firms struggling to fill job vacancies in the quarter will have impacted on businesses’ ability to meet demand for goods and services - adding to already acute supply chain pressures.
“And now, as the Omicron variant begins to increase staff absences again, many firms could see any growth and recovery they have made slip back to first base.
“More business investment in home grown talent - and creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce - is key to solving pervasive skills shortages, but this won’t happen overnight. Burdened with high levels of debt, escalating wage and input costs, damaged cashflow and an uncertain economic environment, employers need help to get back on their feet.
“The government must do all it can to ensure people can access rapid retraining opportunities for in-demand jobs, issue temporary visas for lower skilled jobs - where there is clear evidence of a national shortage - and ensure there are no further upfront costs on business for the remainder of this parliament.”