Oil price fall puts hiring intentions on ice
THE fall in oil price has seen some manufacturers in the region put a freeze on recruitment as research shows the region’s employment market remains less buoyant than the national average.
The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey has rated Yorkshire and Humberside’s hiring intentions as +4%, a figure calculated by subtracting those employers who plan to reduce staffing levels from those who plan to hire staff.
That shows an increase of two points on last quarter, but is still two points below the national average of +6%.
The data shows subregional variations, with Leeds particularly sluggish and South Yorkshire also not showing robust growth.
Amanda White, York-based operations manager at Manpower, said: “While the region is still a little below the national average, it’s pleasing to see an improving outlook for jobs in Yorkshire and Humberside.
“York in particular is leading the way, with steady increases across sectors, and strong demand for qualified trades and customer services. Hull also has a strong jobs market, and those with technical and IT skills are in high demand, together with applicants who have customer service experience.
“However, it’s a less positive picture in the rest of the region. In South Yorkshire the market is stable, but not bullish, and there are bright spots such as opportunities in call centres and positions in the NHS. West Yorkshire – and the Leeds market in particular – is the most cautious area in the region.
“The oil price decline is having a noticeable impact on local industry – particularly companies manufacturing products for use in the energy sector – and some have put a freeze on hiring because of this. However, solid demand for technical engineers elsewhere in the manufacturing sector bucks this trend. So it is certainly not all doom and gloom.”
With the exception of Scotland, all of the UK regions are optimistic going into the second quarter. The East and West Midlands record the strongest hiring intentions this quarter, at +11% and +12% respectively together with the North West at +11%. These regions are big hubs for the utilities sector, in which the Outlook for jobs has risen to +18%, its highest level for eight years.
The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, which is based on responses from 2,100 UK employers, is regarded as a useful indicator of employers’ future employment plans by institutions including the Bank of England and the UK government.
