Yet new data from ManpowerGroup UK show that employers are indicating strong demand to recruit both entry-level workers and younger workers across many areas outside of these traditional recruitment strongholds for the upcoming business quarter.
According to the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, demand for younger workers is especially prominent within organisations based in the Southwest (50%), East Midlands (49%), and Yorkshire and the Humber (48%), and is notably greater than the South East (34%) and marginally ahead of London (47%).
Spokesperson, Petra Tagg at ManpowerGroup UK said: “We strongly suspect that this regional hiring demand is due to high business adoption rates for new innovative technologies such as generative AI, machine learning and Virtual Reality. We think the next quarter is going to be a test and learn phase for employers who are keen to dip their toes into the water but without making a long-term commitment to significant investment into new technologies.”
- The North East has the highest proportion of UK businesses actively using elements of AI technologies in their business processes heading into Q3 (43%), spanning the call centre, manufacturing, transport and logistics sectors.
- The South West has the biggest tranche of machine learning users (38%) – evidence of Bristol’s growing prominence as an R&D hub for data storage, analytics, biotechnology and IPU (Intelligence Processing Unit) work.
- The North West leads nationally when it comes to VR usage (31%) associated with the region’s expanding bioscience and health technology sectors.
This could perhaps suggest that younger workers are being sought for more opportunities and career growth across multiple regional tech/R&D hubs across the UK. The news may give further momentum to the debate around how to address regional inequalities which is heating up again in the build-up to next month’s General Election.
Petra adds: “For the past 18 months or so we’ve been seeing a gradual change in the typical ‘London-centric’ hiring dynamic, with a much more nuanced pattern of workforce demand emerging throughout the country.
“For this coming business quarter, it’s employers in the Midlands and South West who are indicating a much greater intent to hire when compared with those based in the capital and surrounding areas. And when we look at where businesses are using new technologies, it’s clear that it’s not just those based in London and the South East that are taking a lead. Demand is also notably higher for entry-level positions and younger workers across many UK regions.
“While we must add that overall hiring intent remains very robust in London it appears there is something of a shift underway, when it comes to the traditional ‘south-first’ view of many UK employers.”
If you would like to speak with a senior leader from ManpowerGroup UK to discuss the latest regional hiring patterns and employer intentions, we would be happy to broker an interview. Please contact me on 078851 138279, reply to this email or contact press.office@manpowergroup.co.uk.