Tackling talent challenges head on
Like most of industry it’s a critical time for manufacturers – on the one hand there is a pent-up demand for products post-Covid generating buoyant orderbooks, however headwinds such as wage inflation, the recent addition of increased NI employment costs, soaring energy prices, inflationary pressures increasing the cost of raw materials, and the complication of global supply chain pressures post-Brexit are all adding real challenges.
In addition, the recruitment and retention of skills – particularly crucial engineering candidates – consistently remains one of the top priorities for organisations.
Make UK, the manufacturers organisation, stated in Q1 2022: “Vacancies within the industry are at a time-series high, with the highest manufacturing vacancies per 100 employed for twenty years reported by the ONS’s latest employment figures.
The current rate of vacancies in the industry stands at 4.0 roles per 100 employed. By way of comparison, the average figure across that same twenty-year time period is only 1.9, demonstrating just how short for labour the manufacturing sector is at the moment.”
Vacancies within the industry are at a time-series high, with the highest manufacturing vacancies per 100 employed for twenty years.
Engineering operations across all manufacturing sectors are facing much more than just a skills shortage. In a post-Covid world, employers are having to work much harder to attract and retain critical and in-demand engineering skills. There are record numbers of vacancies being advertised in the UK jobs market. The industry has also witnessed an unprecedented number of engineers retire or skilled candidates being seduced by associated industries able to offer higher wages – exacerbating skills gaps. Employees are increasingly requesting flexible or remote working, and we’re seeing first-hand that graduates are measuring employers on their environmental standing. It’s a complicated landscape and to successfully compete for the very best engineering talent, employers need to adopt a contemporary multi-faceted recruitment approach.
Manpower has been building its network of engineers, technicians and senior managers for decades; now, as part of ManpowerGroup’s global strategy to become more strategically aligned with industry, we are proud to announce that in May 2022 we launched Manpower Engineering in the UK. This stand-alone division was established to directly address the skills crisis front and centre – with the division establishing a proactive and professional service.
From five strategic locations, Manpower Engineering has complete UK-wide coverage across the sector. Teams of experienced recruiters work the full spectrum of white-collar engineering roles – placing skilled candidates every day into leading organisations across the country.
Combining subject matter expertise, extensive digital capabilities and intelligence-led approaches, we provide customer partners with meaningful insights and robust solutions to overcome the skills challenges the industry faces.
Consultants are supporting engineering candidates with career decisions so they can better develop their skills and career opportunities. In turn, our deeper understanding of the sectors that our consultants operate within allows them to match candidates and customers more effectively – helping businesses achieve their productivity ambitions.
Whether you need to recruit for specialist projects, day-to-day operations or to combat your future engineering skills challenges, Manpower Engineering is here to help you hire skilled talent quickly and efficiently, never compromising on quality.
For further information or to get in touch with us, visit Manpower Engineering Solutions.
