Three out of four companies struggling to hire

The British Chambers of Commerce Quarterly Recruitment Outlook has revealed that three out of four companies struggle to hire staff.

According to the report, 61% of firms were recruiting in the second quarter. This number is slightly higher than the 60% recruiting in the first quarter. However, of these companies, 76% reported difficulties in finding staff.

The report canvassed 5,700 businesses and found that the construction sector struggled the most (83%). The production (79%), manufacturing (79%), and hospitality industries (78%) followed.

With rising business costs, only 28% of firms have increased their investment in the last three months, with smaller firms being even less likely to report an increase, at just 19%.

Jane Gratton, BCC Head of Policy, said: “Businesses remain under huge pressure to fill jobs, but record levels of recruitment difficulty are showing no signs of improvement.

“Solutions are urgently needed so that firms can keep their doors open throughout these tough times.

“We have written to the government outlining a three-point plan on how they can work with businesses to solve this.

“Firms must be encouraged to find new ways of unlocking pools of talent – by investing more in training their workforce, adopting more flexible working practices, and expanding use of apprenticeships.”

Marcus Beaver, UKI Country Leader at Alight Solutions, commented: “In today’s work environment, the employee experience is critical. If organisations want to hire more people, they must prioritise it during the recruitment process. Attract employees by offering a good work culture with a clear line for career progression. Employees hold the power to make or break companies, and employers must remember this if recruitment issues are to be overcome.”