Good news on jobs but skills are still a concern
Reacting to the publication, today, of the latest UK employment figures, which have seen unemployment levels fall by 133,000 to 6.8 percent, Bernard Brown, partner and head of business services, in KPMG’s management consulting practice, says:
“More people in employment, more jobs being created and more money in starting salary pay packets all point towards continued growth, greater confidence and a return to a buoyant labour market. For those people lucky enough to be changing jobs, today’s news is a welcome confirmation that their decision to dip their toes in the jobs market looks like being the right one. Yet, for the younger generation, who are still trying to get a toe in the door, the struggle to find employment goes on. Employers will ignore their hunger for work at their own risk because, whilst it is important to have people in place with the right level of experience for today’s needs, they also have to plan for tomorrow.
“Although interest rates are expected to increase within the year, which means businesses are beginning to plan for increased levels of expenditure, most recognise that this shouldn’t stop them from recruiting today. The mantra they seem to be adopting is one of speculating now to accumulate later – but the question that remains is whether jobs are being filled for the sake of filling them and whether organisations are building teams with the skills to meet client needs over the long-term.”
