The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey is the longest running, most extensive, forward-looking employment survey in the world, used as a key economic indicator by both the Bank of England and UK Government.
More than a quarter of UK employers surveyed (27%) identified IT / data skills as being most in-demand, with 18% requiring administration / office support skills, and 17% looking for engineering skills.
ManpowerGroup UK is advising employers to adopt skills-based hiring practices to alleviate these talent shortages, drive innovation and create more diverse workforces.
Click Here to Explore Skills Based Hiring Further
Outlooks have strengthened by +1% since the previous quarter but have increased by +8% when compared to the same time last year. Hiring intention remains high as employers struggle to match talent.
Scotland, North West, London, East Midlands and Northern Ireland are all seeing quarterly increases in hiring intent. Persistent skills shortages make optimistic hiring Outlooks difficult to turn into filled vacancies, however.
Seasonally Adjusted, Net Employment Outlooks (NEO)
Northern Ireland
+43%
South West
+25%
North West
+33%
North East
+24%
East Midlands
+32%
Yorkshire & Humber
London
East
+23%
Scotland
+26%
South East
+22%
West Midlands
Wales
+14%
Businesses in the Financials & Real Estate industry reported the brightest Outlook for the second consecutive quarter, strengthening by +2% compared with Q4 2023. Hiring optimism in all sectors driven primarily by persistent hard to fill vacancies where skilled talent is short.
