Recruitment ‘key priority ahead’ for employers

A new survey has shown that while budget cuts are a prominent concern for a number of UK businesses, firms are looking to hire more staff in the near future.

The Resourcing and Talent Planning poll conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) showed that 68 per cent of organisations had recruitment difficulties, primarily as a result of candidates lacking necessary specialist skills.

As a result of these factors hiring key staff is now the top resourcing objective for 79 per cent of employers in the UK over the next 12 months.

On a positive note, the percentage of businesses intending to implement a recruiting freeze in 2010 is 22 per cent, compared with 42 per cent in 2009.

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Clare McCartney, CIPD resourcing and talent planning adviser, suggested that firms would face increased competition in attracting the top talent to work for their companies.

At the start of this month, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation confirmed that the number of jobseekers in permanent staff placements had increased since May.

By Hayley Edwards