Recruiters across the UK are experiencing increased levels of business activity with 81% announcing that they have found themselves busier than they were this time last year, and 53% stating that business in 2014 has started very well for them.
The encouraging statistics comes from recruitment software developer, Mercury xRM, who questioned recruiters on business levels to date, compared to the same period last year in the firm’s recent recruitment barometer. The firm also polled recruiters on their industry predictions for the remainder of the year and found that recruiters remain fiercely optimistic, with a staggering 92% of those asked declaring that they anticipate 2014 will be a better year for business than 2013.
Mercury xRM surveyed over 100 recruiters from within in its extensive network, and from a number of industry events, on the current state of their business and their forecasts for the future. And while the outlook for the industry is positive, recruiters have identified that a lack of quality candidates and a lack of clients are the major challenges they need to overcome to further grow sales this year, with 27% and 9% citing their concerns respectively. Only one per cent of recruiters questioned said that lead generation and new business was proving an issue and just three per cent said that time is an issue, indicating that more recruiters are taking steps to work smarter.
These statistics from Mercury xRM come at an exciting time for the recruitment industry and the UK economy as a whole. Recent figures published by the Bank of England showed that the UK was returning to pre- recession economic figures, and jobs growth between January and March had risen to a 43 year high.
This upward trend in job creation is generating tougher competition for the highest quality staff and turning businesses towards specialist recruitment agencies, best placed to fill highly skilled vacancies.
Mark Britton, Marketing Manager for Mercury xRM, explains what the future holds as the recruitment industry exits the recession “It’s great to see real signs of economic growth across the UK, and it’s really positive to see these government statistics reflected by recruiters .The recent recession has hit every business, but our barometer shows high levels of optimism, and more importantly, growth, are now visible within the recruitment industry “
“It is also interesting, when you compare the results of this quarter’s barometer survey with the one we conducted last quarter. Last quarter our statistics outlined strong themes of optimism; this optimism has now been translated into tangible growth. Businesses are growing, expanding and hiring more staff and the recruitment sector is benefitting from this upward trend and we are excited to be working with a number of them at what promises to be a very exciting time. “