Stuart Gentle Publisher at Onrec

Mid-size businesses lead from the front on job creation and wage increases in 2015

The Barclays Employers’ Survey 2015, which questioned over 660 UK businesses1, has revealed that mid-size businesses will be leading on job creation and wage growth in 2015. Against a positive backdrop of continued falling unemployment and wage growth outstripping inflation in recent months, 67% are planning to take on new staff (compared to 62% in 2014) and 82% are set to increase wages, a significant increase on last year (67%)

67% of mid-size businesses to create new jobs and 82% to increase wages this year (vs. 50% and 61% of businesses of all sizes)
Almost a third (32%) of businesses gearing up to take on apprentices (vs. 29% in 2014)
70% of businesses in the West Midlands are expecting to increase staff levels – the highest of all the UK regions surveyed
78% of Welsh firms to boost wages in the year ahead, the most of any UK region (up from 57% in 2014)

The Barclays Employers’ Survey 2015, which questioned over 660 UK businesses¹, has revealed that mid-size businesses will be leading on job creation and wage growth in 2015. Against a positive backdrop of continued falling unemployment and wage growth outstripping inflation in recent months, 67% are planning to take on new staff (compared to 62% in 2014) and 82% are set to increase wages, a significant increase on last year (67%).

Amongst businesses of all sizes, half (50%) of those surveyed are looking to increase staff², and 61% are also planning to increase wages, with 42% saying they will boost wages for their entire workforce. Further good news is that the number of businesses planning to reduce staff over the next year has halved, from 10% last year to 5% this year.

When looking at the types of roles businesses are looking to fill, middle and junior management employees continue to be the most in demand across businesses of all sizes, with 83% of hiring businesses planning to hire at this level. Conversely, 78% of the largest businesses that are planning to hire are most likely to do so at a senior level, the highest of all the turnover bands and a significant jump up from 2014, when under half (46%) were looking for senior candidates.

Almost half (48%) of mid-size businesses reported skills shortages, the highest of any turnover bracket surveyed. In contrast, only one in five (21%) of the smallest businesses said skills shortages affected them.

David Roust, Head of Recruitment Industry, Barclays, said: “Skills shortages are most evident amongst the mid-size businesses surveyed and wage increases may be partly driven by this specific factor. This is positive news for employees as firms compete for talent but also, for the Recruitment sector looking to support businesses to identify and recruit candidates as they ensure they are well-positioned for future growth opportunities.”

Buoyant hiring trends extend to apprentices, with almost a third (32%) of businesses surveyed planning to take them on this year, an encouraging sign given the focus on bringing down the UK’s broadly flat youth unemployment rate³. The largest businesses offer the most significant opportunity for apprentices, with almost three quarters (73%) saying they plan to take them on this year, up from 57% a year ago. In contrast, just under a quarter (24%) of the smallest businesses surveyed plan to take on apprentices, a small increase from 21% last year.

The survey suggests that where businesses are hiring apprentices, they may be starting to play a key role in helping to address skills gaps. Amongst businesses reporting skills shortages, almost half (48%) say they are lacking in their main business activity. However, 41% of businesses that are planning to take on apprentices are likely to involve them in this area, a possible move to help resolve this issue. Of the largest businesses reporting skills shortages, 35% are predominately lacking in their engineering departments and the same number (35%) said they were looking to take on apprentices in this area of their business.

David Roust added: “Businesses are becoming increasingly engaged with apprenticeships, hiring more year on year, but it would appear to be the largest businesses that are really ramping up their hiring. Smaller businesses may feel more constrained by resources but grants and support available to help SMEs take on apprentices, could open the door to talented new employees and ultimately bring these businesses tangible commercial benefits.”

Additional findings:

Just under half (46%) of businesses are more confident about the UK economy than they were this time last year (2014: 53%)
77% of businesses still think that sales lead to job creation – as opposed to job creation leading to sales.
42% of the smallest businesses plan to take on new staff this year – the lowest of all the turnover bands surveyed.
The majority (83%) of companies increasing staff levels will take on middle/ junior management/skilled staff.
78% of vacancies in the last 12 months have been filled from within the UK. A quarter (24%) said they had hired employees from inside the EU (not including the UK) and 7% from outside the EU.
75% of facilities management sector planning to increase staff levels and 73% planning to increase wages – the highest of all the sectors surveyed.