Recruitment for manufacturing roles slows down
Published: 05 December, 2019
As the UK gears up for its fourth general election since 2010, increased economic uncertainty has led to a significant drop in job advertisements across the manufacturing industry. In fact, according to data from the a leading UK job board, CV-Library, the number of advertisements fell by 17.1% month-on-month and a further 9.5% year-on-year.
The findings, which explore job market data from November 2019 and compare this with the previous month and the same period in 2018, also reveal that despite these drops average salaries for manufacturing roles have increased – but only by a marginal 2.2% month-on-month and a further 3.3% year-on-year.
Lee Biggins, CEO and founder of CV-Library, comments: “According to industry research, factories are laying off workers at the fastest rate in seven years and job losses have hit a record high since September 2012. Unsurprisingly, Brexit is cited as one of the contributing factors for these numbers.
“With this still hanging in the balance and the fact that the general election is just around the corner, manufacturers have no choice but to hold back on hiring new talent and this isn’t unusual at this time of year. However, as we approach a typically busier period for recruitment, we hope to gain some clarity on how we will navigate through these tumultuous times.”
Interestingly, it isn’t just employers putting on the brakes this month. In fact, applications to manufacturing also fell by 13.5% month-on-month and a further 6.2% year-on-year. With job losses so rampant throughout the sector, it’s no surprise that candidates are becoming increasingly reluctant to look for new roles.
Lee Biggins continues: “It’s important to remember that while these numbers are certainly exacerbated by the current political climate, this time of year is usually quieter for recruitment across the board. Because of this, it’s a good time to take stock of where your company is currently at and start thinking about your future hiring needs. In doing so, you’ll ensure that you’re ready to recruit when the dust has settled after the general election and when many candidates will be looking for a change after the Christmas period.”
