During the Offshore Wind North East 2023 we took the opportunity to survey 115 businesses/delegates at the exhibition in order to discover current trends within recruitment. I am delighted to take this opportunity to present the results.
The results showed that 30% of the respondents identified lack of skills as the primary challenge for their business. This was closely followed by recruitment, with 29% of participants highlighting it as a major challenge. 13% of the respondents cited competition as a significant concern, while 8% indicated that their organisation lacked funding. Market uncertainty and Brexit was identified as a challenge by 20% of the participants. These insights provide valuable information about the key obstacles faced by businesses, helping stakeholders understand and address the critical issues affecting their operations.
The results indicate that 35% of respondents stated that their organisation hires 20 or more individuals annually. The next significant category was organisations recruiting less frequently, with 28% reporting less than 5 hires per year. The range of 5-10 hires per year accounted for 22% of the responses, while businesses hiring between 10 and 20 individuals annually constituted 15% of the survey participants.
According to our survey it takes 45% of the businesses 1 - 3 months to fill a role (including notice period). A further 10% say its takes more than 6 months to fill the role.1 in 5 organisations fill a role within the first 2 weeks of searching. While 15% say it takes up to 1 month to fill a vacancy within their business.
Specifically referencing, “blue collar” roles, 57% of respondents said that these would be filled between 1-2 weeks.
When it comes to searching for their next role, 70% of individuals have expressed that money is not their primary motivator. Instead, 46% prioritise training and progression, recognising the importance of personal and professional growth. Additionally, 34% place great emphasis on the culture and reputation of the organization they are considering, understanding the significance of a positive and supportive work environment. Furthermore, 20% highlight flexible working or hybrid arrangements as the key factor in their job search, valuing the ability to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
According to the results of the survey, the longest period of time that a position has remained open is less than 6 months, which accounts for 38% of the responses. The next longest period is between 6 and 11 months, representing 30% of the responses.
A significant portion of positions remain open for 1-2 years, making up 22% of the total. Finally, only 10% of the positions have remained open for a period longer than 2 years with some of them remaining vacant still.
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