Partner Article

Job availability across NorthEast dips amid election uncertainty

Venn Group Contract Recruitment Index

March 2015

“Monitoring contractor demand across the North East“

Job availability across the North East dips amid election uncertainty

Contract Recruitment Index highlights

There was a 9% fall in jobs month-on-month Despite fall, NHS increases hiring for HR Project Staff and finance professionals Decline in rates of 6% across the region month-on-month

Overall decline in job vacancies due to election uncertainty

The March 2015 North East Recruitment Index recorded a 9% month-on-month downturn in job availability with 2,100 vacancies advertised, compared to 2,300 in January 2015. Uncertainty in the face of the upcoming election, heightened by the possibility of an in-out referendum on the UK’s EU membership if the Conservatives win, resulted in a dip in hiring activity.

Stan Murray Hession, Associate Director of Venn Group, commented:

“Although the market is down slightly overall, as the end of the financial year approaches, we’ve witnessed a sharp increase in demand for finance roles - particularly credit controllers - within the NHS. This has been twinned with a rise in the number of IT positions advertised for contractors to develop and maintain its improving healthcare technology systems.

The NHS has also seen a surge in the demand for HR project staff in the region to improve current HR practices due, in part, to the prevalence of “whistle blowing” cases.”

Contractors’ rates decline due to record low inflation in February 2015

The average rate for those securing jobs in February 2015 was 6% lower than those recorded in January 2015, with contractors now receiving an average of £15 per hour across the region. This can be attributed, in part, to last month’s record low inflation which has affected rates both across the region and across the UK.

Stan Murray Hession continued:

“The decline in job vacancies is disappointing but typical of pre-election employment trends. However, it is not all bad news for the North East with the onset of George Osborne’s Long Term Economic Plan aiming to create 50,000 more jobs in the region by improving transport connections, investing in apprenticeships and focusing on developing industry outside of the city centres. This not only means the creation of new jobs and a thriving employment market, but also the economic boost will translate to the average pay of workers in the region.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

Venn Group is the UK’s only specialist contract recruiter for organisations within the public and private sectors.

www.venngroup.com

Methodology

The Recruitment Index uses Venn Group’s own weekly records of new contract job vacancies. Statistics for the report are derived using Venn Group’s market share across each geographic region to ensure an accurate barometer of recruitment activity is recorded.

For further information please contact Stephanie King at BlueSky PR on 01582790700 or 07760208532

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Venn Group .