British bosses raise concerns over post-Brexit recruitment

Recruitment is expected to struggle in 2018, and Brexit could make it worse

Almost two thirds of British employers believe that 2018 will see a shortage in valuable skills, which many expect to worsen after Brexit, according to a new recruitment study by specialists Robert Walters, Totaljobs and Jobsite.

65% expect the country to be put on the back-foot this year, with a further 50-50 split expecting Brexit to further damage our global reputation. Due to the skills gap the country is facing, 23% believe that Britain is not prepared to compete on the global stage, which will become even more important following the anticipated exit from the EU in 2019.

“As we head closer towards Brexit employers will have to think differently about how they attract and retain the best talent from across the globe,” said David Clift, HR Director of Totaljobs. “Shortages are likely to be particularly severe at the junior and mid-management, partly due to the long-term impact of the 2008 financial crisis, when levels of graduate recruitment fell sharply.”

“Employers looking to find long-term solutions to the current skills shortage should focus on engaging with and informing graduates and university students of the opportunities available in their industry.”

28% of employers aim to target professionals from other fields who possess transferable skills as a way to combat the skills shortage, while 49% would use internal training to upskill staff. 57% of recruits, however, would look for roles in other fields where their skills would be transferable.

“Developing innovative strategies to address skills shortages will be critical for employers in order to help their businesses remain competitive in a crowded global marketplace,” said Chris Hickey, CEO of Robert Walters UK, Middle East and Africa. “Employers may need to consider broadening their hiring criteria and sourcing professionals with transferable skills from other professional backgrounds.”

Nearly half of job-hunters believe bosses should partner more effectively with local universities and educate students on potential career paths and 48% believe that they should offer work placements.

“In many cases, in addition to helping employers fill business critical vacancies, this approach can help bring new and innovative ideas into an organisation due to their varied background,” continued Hickey. “Additionally, employers should consider the potential in building relationships with universities and colleges, giving them the opportunity to interact with students to help position them as desirable employers and to give students the opportunity to develop the skills early on that will help them thrive in the workplace.”