Public access recruitment systems like the Jobpoint kiosks installed in more than 1,000 UK Jobcentres are leading the march towards UK On-line by holding out the prospect of Internet access for the large proportion of the UK''s population that cannot otherwise connect with the IT revolution argues Brian Murray of kiosk manufacturer NeoProducts.
On-line recruitment is big business these days, especially in the higher paid white collar sector where sites like GoJobsite, Monster, Workthing and Total Jobs compete for business. GoJobsite, for example, advertises some 80,000 to 200,000 vacancies each month while Monster features around 20,000 vacancies on its site. Most of these vacancies are in the private sector and aimed at the corporate market, not surprising when you consider that the majority of people with personal Internet access come from the ABC1 group.
Current figures estimate that over 60% of ABC1 adults have access to the Internet. But where does that leave the other 40% and the rest of society? Nearer 80% of CDE adults - the lower paid and unemployed - have no means of regular access to the Internet. How can they be included in the Internet revolution?
One way in which such disenfranchised citizens can gain from the Internet revolution is through public access kiosks and terminals. Such kiosks and terminals are already springing up in public sector sites as the government does its part to extend Internet availability to all citizens.
A prime example is in Jobcentres throughout the UK where over 9,000 Jobpoint kiosks have been installed over the last year to enable Jobseekers to search through up to 400,000 jobs on-line. The Employment Services'' Jobpoint scheme enables many Jobseekers who are not catered for by most on-line recruitment services to seek work on-line. Manual work, such as labouring, bricklaying and cleaning, is well featured on the Jobpoint system but you are not likely to find many jobs like these on private sector on-line sites. These types of jobs are more likely to appeal to people without personal access to the Internet and are thus less appealing for on-line recruitment services. The ES Jobpoint service and website both feature this type of work and have proven very popular with around 80% of searches coming via the Jobpoint kiosks.
So kiosks can open up the on-line recruitment business to all members of the labour pool and not just the ABC1s. There are examples of public access terminals and kiosks all over the UK in libraries, tourist information centres and other public places. There are also many potential opportunities to extend on-line recruitment services still further with Jobpoint kiosks appearing in local supermarkets so people can shop around for a new job at the same time as getting their groceries. And private recruitment companies could also join in by siting kiosks in their major branches.
With the success of the UK Employment Services'' Jobpoint scheme it is clear that kiosks are one of the most exciting and innovative developments in the on-line recruitment business.
The Jobpoint touchscreen kiosks at the British Jobcentres are the latest in a long line of high profile government installations worldwide for NeoProducts. The company has previously provided 2,600 similar terminals in Australian Job Search offices and has also delivered award winning kiosks to the Hong Kong government for its Electronic Service Delivery project. These kiosks provide easy access to services from over 20 different government agencies as part of the HK government''s Digital 21 Information Technology strategy.
NeoProducts has, in the last 10 years, sold over 30,000 touchscreen terminals. Last year, the company acquired UK-based LGC Associates to strengthen its European sales and development operations. ISO 9001 accredited, the company serves a wide range of clients from a variety of industries including government - both national and local - telecommunications, retail, leisure and entertainment, travel and ticketing and financial.
JOBPOINT KIOSKS SHOW THE WAY TO UK ON-LINE
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