Employers find it difficult to recruit despite the recession

Jun 1 2009 by Alistair Houghton, Liverpool Daily Post

ONE in 10 UK employers are facing difficulties in recruiting the staff they require despite the recession, according to the fourth Manpower Annual Talent Shortage Survey.

The figures remain consistent compared to the 2008 findings when 12% of employers surveyed highlighted difficulties in recruiting the right staff.

However, the figures represent a marked improvement from 2007 and 2006, when 34% and 42% of employers respectively cited difficulties recruiting staff with the right skills.

The independent research of 2,238 UK employers reveals that the most difficult positions to fill are those for engineers, skilled trades, sales representatives and executives.

However, nurses dropped out of the list of the top 10 trickiest roles to recruit, despite the NHS’s ongoing need to recruit specialists.