Employers in the south east are hiring more people and lifting recently imposed recruitment freezes

Employers in the south east are hiring more people and lifting recently imposed recruitment freezes, according to a report.

Professional staffing recruitment company Barclay Meade say things improved markedly from the last quarter of 2010 to the first quarter of the current year.

But the Tracking UK Recruitment report points to significant worries for the region’s businesses. Some 17 per cent of employers say the rising price of fuel and the potential rise in interest rates will have the biggest impact on their recruitment plans over the next year.

Barclay Meade interviewed managers and owners about their current recruitment plans and the landscape of their future workforce.

The study revealed:

> The expense of hiring new staff is the biggest recruitment challenge for 28 per cent of south east businesses. However, with the priority for employers in the south east being on skilled workers, with 18 per cent recruiting in this area, there appears to be a mismatch between what they require and what they can afford.

> With the capital being so close to the region, the appeal of a London lifestyle and improved job opportunities seems to be tempting candidates away from jobs in the eouth east. Thirty three per cent of eouth east employers have found the main reasons for staff leaving is for a change of lifestyle/location and enhanced salary and benefits.

The findings of the tracker are supported by the latest Lloyds TSB business survey, which found the south east economy grew faster than any other region in March, with an increase in output, new orders and employment.

Anton Roe, director at Barclay Meade, said: “The latest ‘Tracking UK Recruitment’ report indicates that employers in the south east may be moving on to a period of re-balancing and gradual growth. While the region’s businesses expect the rising cost of fuel to have a negative impact on recruitment strategies over the next 12 months, the majority of the region’s firms remain cautiously optimistic about business in 2011, suggesting an increasing level of confidence among employers.

“What we do know is that recruitment strategies will need to be implemented effectively to attract the best candidates to maximise the potential of a business over the coming year.

“People development and organisational restructuring will be at the heart of business activity and the recruitment industry should deliver the message of experts recruiting experts to optimise business potential and drive the UK out of a post-recession climate.”

Barclay Meade is one of the UK’s leading professional staffing recruitment agencies, specialising in accountancy, financial services, human resources, procurement, supply chain and logistics, sales, marketing, communications and ecommerce and executive search.

Barclay Meade specialises in providing sector expertise and knowledge in interim, temporary, contract, permanent and executive recruitment.