More UK employers should focus attention on temp workers to satisfy vacant positions

With the frantic environment of the business world ever changing, additional demand can cause many a problem for organisations that are exhausting their capacity during busy periods. It is for this reason that organisations should turn to temporary workers in order to boost their headcount when needed.

In tandem to this, REC (the Recruitment & Employment Confederation) report a potential 45% of employers will be facing a scarcity of appropriate permanent applicants. From the start of 2017 the percentage of employers hiring temporary workers as a response to growth and demand has risen from 48% to 55%. This makes it clear that businesses are struggling to find permanent staff.

Kevin Green, chief executive of REC claims that although ‘in recent years, the majority of jobs created are full time roles’ these are becoming harder to fill, therefore stressing the need for temporary staff.

One third of UK firms have no spare capacity and would struggle to satisfy any increases in demand, consequently highlighting the need to recruit in such times. Temporary workers can easily fill the void created by this lack of permanent candidates and provide short term solutions for businesses.

With the REC reporting around 85% of firms aim to extend their use of temp workers in the coming months, it’s clear that the value of temporary employees is being recognised, but the figure should be higher.

Not only do they deliver a solution to increasing demand and organisational growth, but they offer an alternative method of filling those sought after permanent positions, as 24% of organisations transfer over half of their temporary staff to permanent roles every year. During a shortage of permanent candidates, this is invaluable.

The shortage is said to be down to fewer people wanting to switch jobs and the pool of available candidates becoming smaller. Employers should look to promote temporary staff in to full time roles to cope with growth.

Green added that leaving the EU has also made the situation more challenging as economic uncertainty is playing on the minds of employees and firms with EU workers may struggle to sustain their workforce if they leave the UK.