Member Article

The changing UK labour force and temporary workers

Temporary working is on the rise in the UK with more and more businesses realising the benefits of scaling staffing requirements to fit their business performance. Matthew Sanders, CEO at de Poel takes a look at the changing UK labour market and how businesses and workers can benefit from this rise in temporary working.

While the jobs market remains stagnant, temporary work is one area that has seen continued growth. According to the Association of Professional Staffing Companies, temporary job placements across the UK are rising 7% year on year. A clear sign that employers are realising the value that temporary workers can bring to their business.

The benefits for employers of opting for a more contingent workforce are clear. It enables businesses to have greater flexibility in managing changes in demand for products or services.It also means that they are not subjected to the same risks attached to normal employee absence such as sick leave and maternity cover.

Not only can organisations make significant cost savings by scaling staff based on business requirements, but they are also able to access the right talent to meet specific skills or competitive challenges quickly, without incurring long-term costs or disrupting the business.

To take full advantage of the rise in temporary workers, employers need to abandon the idea that temporary workers are more likely to be seeking less skilled positions and embrace the benefits that a flexible workforce can bring. This could include fresh thinking, new approaches to problem solving and extensive experience. Some businesses use temporary contracts as a screening device for potential recruits to their permanent workforce.

It’s also important to remember that it’s not just blue collar roles that are seeing an increase in temporary workers. In 2012 the placement of temporary staff in white collar positions rose by 15%. Due to the current market and the changing opinions on temping, the industry is seeing an increase in temporary workers across all sectors and levels. Historically, temporary work was associated with clerical and manufacturing jobs, but that perception is shifting and evidence shows the growing number of white collar vacancies opening up throughout organisations.

Gone are the times when employers have had easyaccess to highly skilled staff and the ability to fill open vacancies speedily. Shortage in skills is fast becoming a significant issue, it makes sense for employers to use temporary contracts to recruit highly skilled workers. Technical roles in particular are proving hardest to fill with engineers and nurses topping the list of most difficult positions to fill.

From the worker’s perspective, temporary working is advantageous to them as well, and it’s fast becoming a lifestyle choice for those looking to gain experience or who thrive on flexibility and change. The introduction of the Agency Workers Regulations has made strong inroads into protecting the rights of the temporary worker and means that qualifying temporary workers (those that have worked 12 weeks for the same company) are now entitled to the same rate of pay, annual leave and access to facilities as a full time employee, further enhancing the appeal for temporary working.

Benefits to the worker are plentiful. They get the opportunity to work in various roles and environments as well as gainnew skills and experience. Not to mention building their professional network and nurturingrelationships with leading organisations, potentially gaining new references for future employers. It can also help them gain much needed soft skills such as confidence and motivation.

The face of the UK labour market is undergoing a fundamental change and I predict we will continue to see a steady increase in the number of temporary workers in the UK as more businesses and workers alike embrace more control and flexibility.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by de Poel .