Full-time job hires pick up in the City as skills shortage persists
City firms are significantly more likely to hire full-time, permanent employees than they were a year ago, according to a new report out today.
There were 32 per cent more permanent roles available in the Square Mile in the first quarter of this year than there were in the first quarter of 2014, according to a new jobs index from recruiter Robert Walters. Meanwhile, the number of listed vacancies for short-term contract positions fell by 10 per cent over the same period.
Colin Loth, a managing director at Robert Walters, said the findings demonstrated a growing sense of optimism in the City.
“It is particularly encouraging to see an increasing volume of permanent positions available, with businesses now taking a longer term approach to their recruitment strategy,” Loth said.
Robert Walters also tracked the ratio of job vacancies to candidates in the City, finding that in March there were 9,870 jobs available and 6,200 candidates job hunting, an average of 1.6 positions available for every person looking.
Loth said this indicated a skills shortage for employers but increased opportunities for employees.
“Candidates continue to have a rich choice of job opportunities in the City, but for employers there is stiff competition to find the best talent,” Loth said, adding he expected the number of active job seekers to increase as candidates begin to feel more confident about their options.
Loth added he expected a skills shortage to persist, blaming “several years of cutbacks in training and development.”