Are you struggling to recruit staff?

Employers are currently experiencing a recruitment crisis. The job market is a candidate-driven one, with more positions available than there are qualified candidates to fill them. This is causing real difficulties for employers, who are struggling to fill their job vacancies with skilled and experienced staff.?

FACT: 75% of companies are struggling to find the right employees…?

Recent research by the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) conducted with over 5,000 companies has found that recruitment problems were at “record highs” as 75% of companies stated that they are struggling to find new employees to fill certain positions. "Businesses remain under huge pressure to fill jobs, but record levels of recruitment difficulty are showing no signs of improvement”.?

What we have seen in the marketplace since 2020 is that millions of people have left the workforce as they reconsider what they want from employment. Of course, trying to stop staff attrition doesn’t fill the skill gaps that are left behind by those who have already left a company.?

There is a clear solution to fill these businesses' needs… hire resources quickly and effectively. However, this is often easier said than done!?

On top of that, and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ‘new’ working world has embraced hybrid work practices and as such companies need to be able to find a working pattern that works for the business as well as the people they want to hire. This can be difficult, as employees now expect greater flexibility than ever before because of the radical changes to work culture we have seen both during and since the pandemic.?

Filling the missing skill gaps can be a daunting prospect, but they can be overcome by either internal upskilling or by leveraging external candidate sourcing and using a disciplined approach to hiring.?

There are some of course who have determined that the convenience and security of working from home during the pandemic is something they want to continue. There are skilled workers who have changed careers to something they can do remotely, which has put more pressure on companies trying to find the right staff that they need.?

A recent Business Insider survey stated that 39% of employees were clear about quitting their job if not given the opportunity to work from home at least part of the time.?

Since 2020 we have seen significant changes in the employment market as companies often struggle to find the right staff they need.?

Reasons for this are many, but the latest official figures show that more than one in five people of working age (16-65) adults in the UK are unemployed and not looking for work.?

This means that… roughly 22% of the working age population (9.2 million people) are neither in work nor are they looking for work as they may be prioritising education, health and freedom… and they are officially labelled as “economically inactive”.?

Some of these 9.2 million people are in education… with many students not active in the labour market because they are studying full-time, but there are…?

• others who are older workers who have chosen to take early retirement (a lot of highly skilled, well-paid workers retire early because they can afford to), and
• others who are unable to work due to illness of one form or another, and
• others that have simply chosen that they don’t want to work.

Health

Many people are not part of the labour market because they are unable to work. And one key driver of economic inactivity in recent years has been people’s health. For example:?

• Economic inactivity in the UK has increased by around 700,000 people since before the Covid-19 pandemic. This includes 300,000 people aged 50–69 years, who are at greater risk of never returning to work.
• Of the 3.5 million 50–69-year-olds inactive during 2023, 1.6 million reported ill health as their main reason for inactivity, with causes such as long COVID and long waiting lists for treatment being reported.

This increase in economic inactivity – which has grown since before the pandemic – is not just harming the economy, but also indicative of a deeper health crisis.?

Freedom

A big section of the economically active population who cannot be ignored are those who have chosen to completely leave the labour market behind. These are people who want and value – and crucially, can afford – a life without work.?

Here, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic can be seen again. During those years of lockdowns, furloughs and remote working, many people reassessed their relationship with their jobs. Changed attitudes towards work among some (mostly older) workers can help to explain why they are no longer in the labour market and why they may be unresponsive to job offers of any kind.?

As an example, in one rapidly evolving sector… IT and Technology faces continued labour shortages that are mostly driven by skill gaps. The demand for highly skilled workers in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, and data analytics is higher than the talent pool that is currently available to employers.?

The Unemployed Gen Z

Who are the Gen Z generation?

Well, these are generally referred to as those who were typically born between 1996 and 2012.

And here lies a further twist to the labour market.

• Why are so many young adults out of work… and NOT looking for new jobs?

What started as The Great Resignation, which referred to the?unprecedented rise in the number of workers either resigning from or being forced to leave their positions?following the Covid-19 pandemic, this now seems to be a permanent fixture.

It’s younger people that are paving the way for this change. A recent survey found that:

• There has been an increase in people aged 16-34 becoming economically inactive, and?
• People aged 25-34 are the most fed up, with a staggering 77% looking to change roles within the next year, and
• Then there’s Gen Z… the roughly 18–24-year-olds, of whom 74% are hoping to be in new work within 12 months, with half of all those looking to start a new career, but not following traditional career paths.

And what helped to spark all of this? The coronavirus pandemic of course, which forced large numbers of people to stop their usual routines, take a step back and reassess their lives.

“We have had to rethink everything during and since the pandemic – why not our careers?”

All of this sparked many debates across social media, where people were sharing why they’ve decided against finding new employment or taking a different employment path.?

For example, TikTok highlighted Rachael (not her real name) who shared her journey after being fired from her job. Instead of going through the application process for another nine to five position, she decided to become a User-Generated Content (UGC) creator.

In a video posted on TikTok, Jane said: ‘I got fired from my nine to five last week and I’m not getting another job. I know this might sound crazy because it does, but I don’t care.?I decided that there are things that I’ve put on the back burner and things that I now want for myself.’?

Across social media you will find many similar occurrences, with a single common theme, which is…

‘That people are told by everybody that if you go to college or university, you will get these great wonderful jobs.? But guess what, the great and wonderful jobs seem to not exist.’

And the ‘Gen Z’ generation doesn’t want to wait around for 40 or 50 years to make a salary that’s just liveable!

In Summary

It’s no coincidence that long-term illness has been one of the main reasons for people being out of work, and that companies are also making headlines for reversing flexible working policies that they introduced after the pandemic.?

But back-to-office mandates from a lot of companies spare little thought for those with different physical health needs who rely on flexible work, for employees’ mental health.??

The balance of power has swung back towards employers, but many companies are feeling the sting of the economic crisis, together with the issues of now finding the staff they need.?

Couple this with everything else mentioned above, then it just leaves many companies with a recruitment problem that is becoming harder and harder to resolve.?

And this is where South Africa comes to the fore, because the country is not emboldened with the same employment problems being encountered in the UK.

Embracing the Future with Alpha BPO

As UK companies continue to face staffing challenges, partnering with Alpha BPO offers a strategic advantage. By leveraging the unique benefits of South African resources – cultural alignment, time zone compatibility, strong work ethic, and cost-effectiveness – UK businesses can not only overcome their staffing hurdles but also gain a competitive edge in their market.

Alpha BPO doesn't just fill your staffing gaps; we provide a pathway to operational excellence, allowing you to focus on core business activities that drive growth and innovation. In an era where finding and retaining quality staff is becoming increasingly challenging in the UK, Alpha BPO offers a sustainable, efficient, and high-quality solution.

The future of work is changing, and forward-thinking UK companies are embracing global partnerships to stay ahead. With Alpha BPO, you're not just outsourcing tasks; you're gaining a dedicated team of professionals who are committed to your success.

As you consider your options for addressing staffing challenges, remember that Alpha BPO is ready to provide a tailored solution that aligns with your business goals, corporate culture, and operational needs.

It's time to turn your staffing challenges into opportunities for growth and excellence with Alpha BPO.

Talk to us and see if we can help.?

CONTACT DETAILS

For further information, please call or email using the details below:

[email protected]

O7795 107418

alphabpo.co.za

linkedin.com/company/alphabpo/??

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