According to jobsite Indeed, employer demand is outpacing jobseeker interest in the construction and transport sectors. While job growth in the construction industry has increased 10% in the last quarter, jobseeker interest in these positions has remained stable since the beginning of 2015. Similarly, Transport has seen a 13% increase in job availability compared to last quarter, while jobseeker interest in these roles has fallen 2% in August from its peak in March.
The firm added that the figures suggest these industries are amongst the first to feel the impact of an economy that is increasingly reliant on contractors and temporary hires, with an increasing number of tradesmen and drivers branching out to start their own businesses or work on a contract or freelance basis. This trend is more evident for electricians – job searches for electrician including the term self-employed has grown 61% since Q4 2014.
Gerard Murnaghan, VP EMEA, Indeed, said: “The tightening labour market in the UK coupled with the prevalence of self-employment is likely to accelerate this trend in the run up to and following the introduction of the new minimum wage, which will come into force in April 2016. SMEs and micro firms are major contributors to growth in both of these sectors and the backbone of the UK economy. The wage increase may discourage them from taking on additional, junior staff.
Meanwhile a survey conducted for the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has found that driver shortages and the Driver CPC are the most challenging issues faced by transport managers. The poll of 265 O licence-nominated transport managers, carried out in July, found that driver recruitment and retention has continued to be a major issue for transport managers this year. Over 46% reported that in recent months they were either unable to fill driver vacancies or had experienced long delays in doing so. A majority of transport managers anticipated a shortage of drivers in the near future, with most blaming retirement as the greatest contributing factor. The FTA added that this is consistent with the number expecting to retire in the next five years.
