Job prospects in SW the best in the country

Job prospects in the South West are the best in the country, with an employment outlook of +15% this quarter, according to Manpower, the global leader in contingent and permanent recruitment workforce solutions. This is a significant increase on last quarter’s Outlook of +10%, and the highest in the region for over three years.

The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is based on responses from 2,101 UK employers. It asks whether employers intend to hire additional workers or reduce the size of their workforce in the coming quarter. It is the most comprehensive, forward-looking employment survey of its kind and is used as a key economic statistic by both the Bank of England and the UK government. The national Seasonally Adjusted Net Employment Outlook of +8% indicates that the jobs market is up on the second quarter of 2014 when the Outlook was +7%.

“We are delighted to be reporting the strongest outlook in the country, backed up by some real signs of growing confidence in the region,” says Andrew Shellard, Operations Manager at Manpower.

“The positivity in the region can be seen by the increasing trend for more permanent and full time opportunities, particularly in the private sector, as employers feel more confident about making more long term hiring decisions.

“Although there are more jobs to fill, employers are no less focused on finding the right people with the right skills mix. Technical skills are sometimes difficult to find in the region, especially for lower paid roles. We have seen a rise in opportunities for vehicle technicians, CNC programmers and welders, particularly in Plymouth, where specific experience in the automotive industry is much sought-after.

"Customer service is another area in which candidates with the right skills and work history are in high demand. These candidates are getting harder to come by as competition between employers is intensifying, as the number of contact centres in the region makes it relatively easy for employees to switch jobs.

“While some cities, such as Bournemouth, have remained fairly stable, with a steady increase in customer service roles, other cities like Bristol are very buoyant, driven by a sharp increase in demand for customer service and sales roles; we currently have a number of live sales vacancies to fill in Bristol and are keen to speak to experienced candidates.

“The increased confidence in the region can also be seen in the heavy investment into Exeter, where there are 10,000 new homes being built and which is attracting several large organisations into the area, along with a number of job opportunities. We have also seen an increase in sales roles for luxury products including the automotive industry.

“Pay is a hot topic for both candidates and employers, and both are keen to make sure that salaries are in line with the level of demand, especially in highly skilled sectors. We are increasingly being asked to provide salary benchmarking as employers try to ensure that they are attracting – and retaining – the best candidates.”

Going into the third quarter of 2014, there is optimism across all of the UK’s regions with the exception of Northern Ireland (-5%). It is the only region expecting to shed jobs in the next three months. Behind the South West at the top of the regional jobs table, the East of England isn’t far behind on +12%. The East Midlands (+11%), the South East (+9%) and the West Midlands (+9%) all exceed the national average, while Yorkshire and Humberside is in line with the national picture at +8%. Below the national average, but still showing positive hiring intentions are the North West (+7%), the North East (+6%), Wales (+4%) and London (+1%).

“From a national perspective, consistency has been the byword for the UK’s Employment Outlook over the last eighteen months. While job prospects have been strong, it’s only now that we’re seeing a return to pre-recession hiring plans. What’s more, we’re seeing broad-based growth across permanent roles, the self-employed and contractors,” said Mark Cahill, ManpowerGroup UK Managing Director.