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‘Great resignation’ stifling the UK mid-market

With job vacancies in the UK reaching a record high, new research from Grant Thornton UK LLP finds that the ‘great resignation’ is severely impacting the mid-market. Of the 606 mid-sized businesses surveyed for the firm’s latest Business Outlook Tracker*, almost two thirds (63%) are experiencing unusually high attrition rates – with more people leaving their business than normal.

But businesses are not just losing people, they are also struggling to attract new talent. Half of the businesses surveyed are struggling to recruit new people to replace the talent being lost (50%) and to recruit for additional new roles to support their growth (53%).

Amidst the ongoing battle for talent, many mid-sized businesses are doing everything they can to both attract new people and retain existing employees. Two thirds (62%) are offering higher salaries for new roles, and 63% confirmed they are offering pay rises or bonuses to help retain their existing people.

Effectively competing in the talent market also requires looking beyond just salary, with jobseekers increasingly taking the wider employee offering into consideration. The research finds that the mid-market is responding to this, with two thirds of respondents (64%) offering flexible working opportunities as standard and the same number also currently reviewing their employee benefits package to make it more competitive.

Many businesses are also willing to adopt innovative new working styles in a bid for talent. Over half (59%) said they would be likely to trial a four-day working week, in line with the current pilot in the UK, in their business.

Attracting and retaining the necessary skills is an ongoing challenge and many businesses are now looking to government for support. One third (32%) of respondents said incentives for employers to invest in skills attraction and development should be a top priority for policymakers.

John O’Mahony, a tax partner who heads up Grant Thornton’s Gatwick office, said: “With job vacancies reaching record highs in November, the ‘Great Resignation’ has made the fight for talent amongst organisations fierce. Many companies in the South East are experiencing unusually high staff turnover rates and are struggling to recruit to fill their available roles. As our research shows, mid-sized businesses are doing all they can to attract new people but the last two years have had a significant impact on what people prioritise from a job, resulting in some re-thinking their career path or role.

“For many employers, flexibility will be key. The rise in hybrid working has allowed people to achieve a better work-life balance, while still providing the opportunity for collaboration and human connection in the office environment. Employers who can offer this continued flexibility will be much better placed than those who don’t.

“Job seekers now consider a much broader picture when deciding where they want to work and a company’s overall employer offering has never been more important. People now place much more importance on wider aspects of the employee proposition such as the long-term development opportunities, the workplace culture, an employer’s focus on wellbeing as well as inclusion and diversity.

“A business’ success ultimately hinges on its people and with the job market highly competitive, looking beyond the normal recruitment pathways could offer a solution. Businesses should be challenging themselves to consider whether it’s possible to recruit from a wider talent pool or to develop and retrain their existing people into new roles to fill potential skills gaps. Apprenticeships, for example, can be a very effective way of achieving both goals, while also increasing diversity within an organisation.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Harriet Logan .