Public sector recruitment crisis looms


After years of pay curbs and austerity the public services may be facing a recruitment crisis. 


Evidence comes in the shape of a report compiled by the Smith Institute and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), based on a survey of 64 employment agencies supplying workers into public sector organisations in health, social care, local government and education.


The survey results show that 85% of agencies reported difficulties filling vacancies; 75% say it’s hard to recruit highly skilled and experienced staff; and four in five agencies expect demand for agency staff to keep on rising. Skilled, specialist and experienced roles are the most difficult to recruit for in the public sector. 


When recruiters were asked “What is the single most important change that would help ease recruitment difficulties in public services?” the top three answers were: train more new entrants; improve morale in public services; and improve workforce planning and procurement. 


REC chief executive Kevin Green said: “Government must now focus on making public sector organisations an employer of choice, improving workforce planning and upskilling the UK’s future workforce.” 


Paul Hackett, director of the Smith Institute, described the findings as a wake-up call to government, adding that the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015 must include a step change in investment in training across the public sector and an end to the paybill freeze.

https://smithinstitutethinktank.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/public-sector-survey.pdf