GB Solutions

Independent Recruitment Solutions

The local job recruitment market, as we see it.

Temps are on the increase again

At GB Solutions we are pleased to report that we have recorded 5 consecutive months growth in temp revenues to the end of October from a low in May 2009. This brings temp volumes back to  April 2008 levels but pressure on hourly charge rates and margins remains high.

Most pleasingly, this headline masks a number of individual success stories as clients take advantage and tentatively grow their teams as early signs of recovery begin to appear. 

The permanent market – bottomed out?

Although the overall volume of permanent placements has yet to recover, so far this autumn we have seen a steady rise in the number of new positions available throughout Gloucestershire, suggesting we are over the worst of the recession and confidence is returning.

Some sectors have been recovering for a while but until now this has been cancelled out by the residual decline in other areas. Thankfully the overall trend now seems positive once again.

In the early stages of recovery, clients reversed the switch to shorter working weeks or simply asked their employees to work harder to meet early growth. Now many have moved on to recruit once again, seeking to benefit from the talented pool of people who were in very short supply a year or so ago.

Is the stampede abating?

Over the last 18 months we have registered 3500 new, locally based jobseekers with the rate of new enquiries peaking in June 2009. This does not include enquiries from people operating in sectors we do not cover which accounts for a similar number again. Since July this year the rate of applications has slowed slightly with a further 285 new registrations.

Against the backdrop of these figures, potential employers should now feel they can have the pick of the bunch with so many people looking for work. However, in reality, many attractive jobseekers have simply gone to ground, waiting for the economic storm to pass instead of taking a risk and moving. The effect of this is highly talented people have become even scarcer, despite an overall increase in the number of people looking for work.

What does this mean for us?

Prior to April 2008 our ratio of placements to registrations was 1 in 5. So far in 2009 this has risen dramatically to 1 in 15. Faced with this stampede, we have increased our efforts to identify high calibre applicants from the crowd. At the same time we have extended our advertising and social networking presence through Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to entice otherwise reluctant jobseekers into the market place.

What does the mean to our clients?

With our help, clients who have been looking for highly specialised skills such as: Product Marketers, Tax Accountants, Web Content Developers and IT Software Sales to name but a few, have finally managed to recruit these difficult roles.

Follow this link to see a selection of

 Immediately available high calibre candidates

Vetted by us, referenced and ready to work!