Demand for temp workers remains steady

Employers remain committed to the use of temporary staff over the next three months, despite the imminent implementation of the agency workers regulations, latest research shows.

Only 17 per cent of employers say they are planning to reduce the number of temps in their workforce over the next three months, while a greater proportion – 22 per cent – say they will be increasing temp numbers, according to the monthly JobsOutlook survey of 600 employers from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).

The long-term forecast shows a similar picture, with 86 per cent of employers planning to maintain or increase their temporary workforce over the next 12 months.

The forecast for permanent staff is less optimistic, with 53 per cent of employers planning to take on more workers over the next three months, compared to 67 per cent in the last monthly survey. This shows that employers may be maintaining the flexibility of a temporary workforce while concerns about long-term economic prospects prevent them making permanent hires, the REC said.

Roger Tweedy, the REC’s director of research said: “The September figures show a complex picture emerging among employers and their hiring intentions. This month has seen a marked dip in both business and consumer confidence has put the brakes on the jobs market.

“Yet despite the imminent introduction of the Agency Workers Regulations, employers are still looking to build flexibility into their workforces while an overall air of uncertainty prevails in the jobs market.

“With economic predictions remaining downbeat, many employers are deferring any commitment to determining the future shape of their permanent workforces until a clearer picture emerges.”

The agency workers regulations, which come into force on October 1st, entitle agency workers to the same pay and conditions as permanent workers after 12 weeks in an assignment. Around a fifth (21 per cent) of employers in the survey said that the regulations would have a serious or very serious impact on their business.

Source People Management