Three in four employers with skills shortages report a negative impact on other staff, according to a study by by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) in partnership with The Open University.
A staggering 72 percent of these experiencing a skills shortage say the issue is affecting the wellbeing of colleagues.
The study also shows that 28 percent of businesses say that have had to turn down or halt bidding for work due to staff shortage.
Having a skills plan has never been as important to businesses.
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What can organisations do?
Anne Corder Recruitment shares 6 tips on on how to attract the best candidates to your vacancy:
- Be absolutely clear about what it is you are offering – transparency is a key factor, starting with clarity in job adverts around what the role is, and what the person would be doing.
- If the post requires mandated 100 percent office attendance, then make that evident but share the reason why – can it be linked to a value around collaboration? Share benefits and most importantly, be clear on salary.
- Think about the best way of getting engagement for your job post and invite your team to share and comment on any adverts on their own professional social media platforms. There’s nothing better than an in-post advocate to endorse that you have a great place to work.
- The market is moving at a fast pace, so by condensing the process, you won’t let that perfect candidate slip through the net. If you see someone that fits the bill, then make your move or risk losing them to another role.
- You may only get one really strong applicant, but don’t be afraid to make an offer on a shortlist of one. If after a week you have only one applicant that you can see working, don’t wait – it is likely that person will get snapped up and you’ll miss out on a potential starter.
- Work with a recruitment partner; bring them into your manpower plan, skills risks and get them to start building pipeline and talent pooling. That way, when the inevitable happens you should have an expert on hand to deliver your shortlist, save you time in the search and selection process, and ensure that you don’t leave the team shorthanded for longer than necessary.
Managing director Nel Woolcott explained: “Now is really the time for employers, training providers and policy makers to work together to ensure they are delivering and implementing a skills plan.
“On coming out of Covid, employees have proved they can, and in some cases prefer, to work from home, which puts businesses insisting on full-time in-person attendance on the back foot.
“There are a record number of vacancies advertised in the UK, which is resulting in skills shortages. Post pandemic, people are becoming more discerning about their choices – looking for more money AND a better work life balance.”
Nel added: “Boosting morale within a demoralised team can be a tall order, but by showing your team that you are working hard to bridge any gap or gaps and are committed to hiring the best skill-matched candidate to the role can help to rejuvenate and re-energise positivity within the workplace.”
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
- Amelia Brand
- Amelia Brand
- Amelia Brand
- Amelia Brand
