Recruitment 2.0

The controversy over the gender pay gap in the UK made headlines again this week. A report from Deloitte stated that at current rates of progress it won’t close until 2069.  Today, the pay gap stands at 9.4% and is shrinking at the rate of just 2.5 pence per year. The report suggests that one cause of the problem is the lack of women in STEM jobs. At present, women represent 14.4% of the STEM sector and hold 17% of tech jobs.

The UK’s healthcare sector has reached crisis point.  NHS staff shortages, the ageing population, funding and the uncertainty surrounding Brexit mean the industry faces its biggest ever challenges.

As technology becomes more sophisticated, AI is playing an increasingly essential role in hiring decisions and is an integral part of the screening and assessment of candidates for many global brands.

As the summer draws to a close, the ‘back to work’ feeling returns to the UK workforce, accompanied by a predicted rise in the number of people in search of a new job.

Our regular blog is taking a short summer break so in the meantime, we’re publishing our most popular articles of 2016 so far. Enjoy this recap of HR and recruitment trends and insights. We’ll be back on Friday 12^th August with our regular round-up.

The UK’s retail sector is in a state of crisis. With widespread shop closures, a reputation for poorly paid jobs and the ongoing disappearance of long established high street brands such as BHS it faces an uncertain future.

The jobs market continues to see a mixed set of headlines relating to Brexit.  A faltering economy is blamed on the referendum result as Lloyds Bank announced plans to close 2,000 branches. On a more positive note, McDonald’s intends to recruit 5,000 more staff by the end of 2017 – and pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline is investing £275m in its three UK operations. But the overall outlook remains tentative and employers are understandably cautious.

The gig economy has been making the headlines for the wrong reasons in the past week as two high profile cases were launched at the Central London Employment Tribunal against taxi firm Uber. The case brings into sharp focus the downside of the gig economy, with suggestions that unscrupulous employers take advantage of the sector in order to avoid employment costs.

How prepared is HR for the reality of Brexit?

After Brexit, Microsoft’s acquisition of LinkedIn is one of the most debated current topics in recruitment. How will it impact LinkedIn’s position as a source of talent and will it affect your hiring strategy?