Latest news: Employers struggling to fill vacancies

Despite high unemployment levels, employers are finding it difficult to recruit suitable candidates for roles, according to recent findings. 29/06/2011

An annual survey carried out by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) in partnership with Hays revealed that three quarters (73%) of organisations have highlighted an increase in the number of unsuitable candidates applying for job vacancies.

This is said to be the result of talented individuals staying put in their roles due to volatile economic times and also the number of applications submitted to each role having increased due to high levels of unemployment.

With three quarters (75%) of organisations experiencing recruitment difficulties, employers say that the main reason for this is due to a lack of necessary specialist or technical skills, with managers/professionals and technical positions the most difficult to fill.

‘High levels of unemployment have boosted quantity, but employers are still struggling with quality. Headlines focus on high levels of unemployment, but those stark statistics mask an ongoing struggle for employers to find the skills and experience they need to drive their businesses forward,’ said Claire McCartney, resourcing and talent planning adviser at CIPD.