The UK is an established global leader when it comes to manufacturing and Lincolnshire is at the very heart of it.
For many manufactures across Lincolnshire, COVID-19 has presented the single biggest disruption they’ve faced. As restrictions were imposed in the UK and globally, factories ground to a halt, productions lines stopped, while swathes of workers downed tools and order books shrank overnight. The pandemic caused a significant dip in manufacturing employment levels.
While the outbreak has been devastating for manufacturers across Lincolnshire, it has provided pause for thought and refocused where and how businesses should direct their efforts. This pause is now the perfect time to check out our FREE Modern Manufacturing Recruitment guide, see how your business can benefit.
The main talking point now if it wasn’t already, is recruitment! Recruitment is now at the very top of most Lincolnshire manufacturer's priority lists as they continue to bounce back from Covid. The demand for staff now is greater than ever and many Lincolnshire manufactures are struggling to find the skilled staff they need.
“Over the last 5 years in the UK recruitment sector they’ve seen a steady growth each year with the 2019 market valued at £38.9bn; an impressive increase despite much uncertainty over the impact of Brexit”, Camino had to say. The Job Support Scheme is forecasted at £42bn though they’ve seen another big decline following the 2009 global economic crash.
The 2009 Global economic crash was when the stock market plummeted, and the unemployment rate rose to 10% for the first time since 1982. Following this 12 years later, the pandemic has proved to be difficult, but the recruitment industry plays a major role in the post-COVID-19 world.
In an article by Total Jobs where they mentioned the UK recruitment market, a figure that stood out was the increase of jobs throughout August and September the weekly search was up to 14% year on year, a steady growth moving to 15% across the market now sits at 62% of pre-covid levels. Moving forward, the government replacing the furlough scheme with the ‘Job Support Scheme’ will see an increase in jobs noticeably in the recruitment industry as this opportunity is shifting from a candidate scare market to a candidate rich market.
The JSS or Job Support Scheme is a scheme that applies where employers are operating but facing a decreased demand due to coronavirus. This scheme was made into 2 types, JSS Open, and JSS Closed. Firstly, JSS Open is to protect sustainable jobs in employers who are facing a lower demand in the winter months, Secondly, the JSS Closed Is where a business is required to close its premises due to local or national coronavirus restrictions.
The Nuffieldtrust stated that the known lifestyle central government costs for new programs resulting from COVID-19 as of January 2021 were over a quarter of a trillion pounds (£271). This money has allowed the additional government funding for COVID-19 spread out in different sectors: £129bn in business; £58bn in Health and social care; £46bn in other public services; £35bn for individuals and £2bn for other.
Moving forward, a year on and we’re in a ‘V shaped’ recovery after a decline it’s only right that it rises, starting with 341,000 in June 2020 which followed the first lockdown. June 2021, 862,000 job vacancies are now back to where they were before which also indicates the economy recover. Facts, figures, and image provided by Bank of England.
So…what’s changed in the recruiting industry?
Since COVID-19 has been a serious threat to the employment rates many recruitment agencies have had to make it work whilst finding a new norm. We’ve had to make a virtual shift to technologies for interviews after the initial phone screening which remained the same, the face-to-face interview has moved online which will speed up the hiring time preventing stalls. Virtual interviews, pre-recorded questions, and multiple-choice answers are the new wave taking storm over all industries.
Remote working has been introduced over more sectors and remained, as the UK population gain more confidence and as COVID-19 rules ease Remote working is becoming more popular. Over half of the UK workers who have been working from home (WFH) continue to do so, this can be a must-have practice for the future.
Sources Used: Camino, Nuffieldtrust, Total Jobs , Bank of England
