Demand for workers in the North West grows faster than national average
Survey reveals that firms are looking to take on more workers in the North West of the country, with demand leaping by as much as four points in the region’s employment outlook, peaking at its highest level in 18 months.
The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey reports that hiring intentions in the North West have gone up to +11%, almost twice the national average for Q2 of 2015.
Based on responses from 2,100 UK employers, the survey questions whether employers intend to hire additional workers or reduce their workforce in light of financial pressures. It offers one of the most comprehensive outlooks for future planning by employers, and is used as a key economic statistic by both the UK government and the Bank of England.
Greg Hollis, operations manager at Manpower UK, said:
“Employment prospects in the North West look solid going into the second quarter, and are well ahead of the national average.
“Not only are an increasing proportion of the roles we’re seeing full time – a sign of improving economic sentiment – but there is also a shortage of candidates in some key areas.
“These conditions may well drive pay growth, as companies seek to attract the candidates they need. In addition, we’re seeing employers investing in training to upskill people where the relevant skills are in short supply.
“Engineers are in high demand across the region, including in the manufacturing jobs market in Liverpool and Warrington, as well as in the utilities sector in Wigan.
“In Manchester, the market is particularly candidate-driven, with many employers finding it challenging to obtain the talent they need across sales, travel and finance.
“In this candidate-driven market, those with the right experience could find themselves with several attractive job offers to choose from.”
As we head into Q2 of 2015, the national seasonally-adjusted net employment outlook has remained at 6% for its third successive quarter, which implies that the UK jobs market as a whole is likely to continue on a steadily optimistic course.
Words: Peter Cribley