Two-fifths (42%) of employers increase the salary on offer when forced to readvertise a job, according to a survey by the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC). As many as 80% will re-advertise a role and, in a quarter of cases, have resorted to lowering the job requirements when doing so.
Skills shortages continue to be a major concern and 49% of employers in the survey of 600 state they expect a shortage of candidates for permanent roles in the next three months. Construction, engineering and health/social care are the three sectors where employers most expect a shortage of candidates for permanent roles in the next four to 12 months.
Other measures taken by employers experiencing difficulties in recruiting (other than increasing the salary on offer and lowering job requirements) include revising the benefits package (24%), attempting to recruit potential candidates from other sectors (37%) and targeting candidates from non-traditional backgrounds – for example, ex-military (23%).
REC chief executive Kevin Green said:
‘Throwing money at the problem isn’t a long-term solution for employers, as they compete with each other for the available talent. We need to train people up by embedding employability skills in schools, providing effective careers guidance and promoting apprenticeships. Employers should take responsibility for investing in training – it will help them retain staff and grow their own talent.’