Employers have their say on what they need to find, recruit and retain the right workers

With the government starting to roll out a number of welfare-to-work reforms, a new survey has been released looking at what employers need for recruiting and retaining workers.

According to the REC survey, in collaboration with the Institute for Employment Studies (IES), employers have suggested that any changes to public sector employment services should prioritise reform of financial support for new recruits.

The survey asked employers what types of support they will find most useful if the government reforms DWP policies around supporting people into work. Employers chose priorities from a selection of options which included help with skills training and easier one-stop access to government employment schemes.

REC Deputy Chief Executive Kate Shoesmith, said, “Any welfare reform to employment services should be part of long overdue efforts to draw up a coherent workforce plan for the UK, that helps us overcome the acute labour shortages that persist in many sectors.

“The success of our partnership on Restart shows what can be achieved when the public and private sector work together and where each provider plays to their strengths to deliver what they do best.”

Tony Wilson, Director, Institute for Employment Studies, added, “Even though inflation may be starting to ease, this data shows that many employers are still struggling to fill jobs because of a continued ‘costs of working crisis’ for prospective staff. Issues with the affordability and flexibility of childcare and transport in particular are continuing to act as barriers for people who are out of work, want to work but struggling to get back in.

“The good news though is that we can do something about this, in particular by increasing and publicising the funding available through local jobcentres and widening eligibility for this so that other local employment services can draw this down too.

“Looking longer term, the survey findings also reiterate the case for broader reform of our employment services, with many employers saying that they want to be able to go to one place to get information and support on skills, training and recruitment.”

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