Firms to increase workforces in 2011

News Article - 14 December 2010
Category: Business

Over a quarter (28 per cent) of businesses will expand their workforces next year, according to a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). A further 15 per cent say the increase will be significant.

Just 16 per cent of respondents to the PwC survey plan to shrink their workforces during 2011, compared to 43 per cent when the survey was carried out at the same time last year.

Questioned over the most pressing employment issues to be faced in 2011, just over half of respondents identified plugging skills shortages as most worrying, closely followed by 'global mobility' and employment laws.

Michael Rendell, head of HR services at PwC, has highlighted technology, services and manufacturing as industries where demand for new workers is likely to be particularly high. The manufacturing sector has experienced one of the highest levels of post-recession growth.

According to Mr Rendell, firms face a considerable challenge when it comes to expanding their workforces.

"The loyalty of many workers will have been severely tested during the last two years and will be challenged further as the job market picks up. Identifying how best to reward and motivate these individuals should be the top priority and will remain challenging, given pay constraints in many businesses."

With a recent Government announcement suggesting significant improvement to the employment market over the next five years, it's no surprise companies are looking to reinvigorate workforces and return to pre-recession levels of employment.

However, it's important firms do not become complacent, and implement recruitment drives in a financially efficient way. Access HR software can help: by automating many important parts of the recruitment and selection process, companies can implement recruitment programmes with the minimal time investment from the management team. This not only helps to cut costs but also gives leaders more time to spend on the business and other important tasks.

For more information on the benefits Access HR software can bring to recruitment and selection drives, please call us on 0845 345 3300.

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