Big firms set to keep 2015 jobs market buoyant as business look to take on more staff
Jobs numbers are set for an early-2015 boost with Britain’s largest companies leading the way, new survey data shows.
The survey results published by consultancy ManpowerGroup today show buoyant employment intentions.
The net balance of firms looking to take on workers – the percentage of firms saying they were looking to increase their headcount minus the per cent of firms looking to decrease it – rose to seven per cent for the first three months of 2015.
The net balance of firms planning to employ more people is higher than the six per cent recorded for the final three months of 2014 when the survey was last undertaken in September 2014.
Big companies look to be driving the positive employment plans.
Among big businesses the net balance of 21 per cent of firms said they were looking to take on more staff.
“2014 was a bumper year for jobseekers, with the highest level of job creation in 40 years. 2015 will begin with employers in an even more confident position and we are optimistic about job prospects for the rest of the year,” said Mark Cahill, ManpowerGroup UK managing director.
“More of the UK’s largest employers are planning to take on staff than at any point in the last decade.”
Hiring intentions improved dramatically in the utilities sector with the net balance of utility firms raising their employment plans increasing to 16 per cent for the first three months of 2015 from 12 per cent in the final three months of 2014.
Meanwhile, a net balance of nine per cent of construction firms are looking to add more workers to their books – the most since 2007. However, the sector is suffering from a skills shortage.
“In London we have seen the extraordinary statistic that one in three of the largest construction companies is having to turn down bidding opportunities due to a shortage of skilled labour,” Cahill said.
Regionally, firms in the North East had the highest hiring intentions.