Hays Reveals Recruiting Private Sector Talent Is Now A Priority
For Public Sector
Released
on: August 25, 2009, 6:01 am
Author: Hays Plc.
Industry: Human
Resources
Hays
Public Services has revealed the results of a new survey which
shows that more than 80% of public sector organisations believe
skills shortages in their organisation would be best filled by
private sector workers.
Employers
based across public services divisions including education, central
and local government, housing, the NHS, charities and not
for profit organisations stressed concern about the lack of
commercial talent. 47% of respondents also said there are widespread
skill shortages generally and this needs to be addressed in order
for quality services to be delivered.
Concerns
expressed by respondents identified shortages in management skills
(54%) and indicated that the most valuable attributes a private
sector candidate can bring to the public sector is commercial
expertise (61%) and creativity (17%). Other attributes include
a different drive and ethic.
The
time to move to the public sector may be now, with 63% of employers
confirming they have noticed an upturn in applications. Significantly
86% believe this increase is beneficial with job
candidates bringing a diverse range of skills experience and
willingness to adapt to new methods.
Andy
Robling, Director at Hays Public Services, said: "The recession
has forced people to re-evaluate their perception of a job in
the public sector and they have come to realise that it offers
comparable pay, generous benefits and a challenging, yet rewarding,
environment. At the same time, many public sector organisations
are undergoing a period of change and commercial expertise is
highly valued to manage this process and drive efficiencies. Employers
need to make sure they are tapping into this pool of talent. Jobseekers
with a commercial background have never been more available or
more willing to make the move."
Although
almost two-fifths of public sector employers are adamant that
the recession has enabled access to a pool of talent that may
otherwise not have been on offer, there is also the concern that
once the economy picks up many of the new workers will leave and
go back to previous private sector employment, once again leaving
a dearth of skills.
However,
of greater concern to employers is their recruitment costs, with
almost a fifth claiming that this was currently their biggest
staffing challenge - an increase of 8% compared to before the
recession, which perhaps isn't surprising in the current climate.
"All
costs in an organisation are being scrutinised closely, and recruitment
isn't an exception. We are looking at innovative ways to partner
with our clients to deliver maximum cost efficiencies and help
them to find quality candidates, at a time when they are being
inundated with CVs," concluded Robling.
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About
Hays Public Services:
Hays Public Services is part of Hays plc and specialises in public
sector jobs including
social housing jobs and a range of jobs
in education. It is market leader in the UK and Australia,
and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe. As of 30
June 2008, the Group employed 8,294 staff operating from 380 offices
in 28 countries across 17 specialisms. For the year ended 30 June
2008, the Group had revenues of £2.5 billion, net fees of
£786.8 million and operating profit before exceptional items
of £253.8 million. The Group placed around 80,000 candidates
into permanent jobs and around 300,000 people into temporary assignments
and the temporary placement business represented 49% of net fees
and the permanent placement business represented 51% of net fees.
Press
contact:
Claire Fowler
Hays Plc
Charter House
13 - 15 Carteret Street
London
SW1H 9DJ
020 7630 4282
www.hays.com
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