The West Midlands is in pole position to drive forward the 海角视频’s recovery from recession – but skills shortages could prove a major stumbling block.
Global recruitment giant Hays say the region’s ‘fantastically broad-based economy,’ with construction, automotive and education all on the upturn, is helping power the 海角视频’s fightback from the downturn.
But Hays, the 海角视频’s leading white-collar professional recruiter, says the region must bridge the skills gap to retain the momentum of recovery.
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Mark Staniland, managing director of Hays in the Midlands, said: “We are leading the way in the 海角视频 in terms of driving forward demand for staff.
"Because it is such a fantastic broad-based economy, both for manufacturing and the business sector, I think the Midlands outlook is very positive.
“We have gone from a situation a year ago of staff availability to resolving severe skills shortages. This could hamper the growth of some organisations.
“The Midlands has been leading the way in growth rates. The economy is one of the best broad-based economies in the country and the success of the likes of JLR and JCB has helped support the success of a supply chain of organisations.
"There has been an accelerating demand from SMEs throughout 2013 as we go into 2014.
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“I think the outlook going into 2014 is significantly better than it was a year ago, and there is the confidence to recruit permanent staff across all sectors.
"We are recruiting for IT, manufacturing, engineering etc, but in every area, there are skills shortages which we are trying to help our customers resolve.
“In two years’ time, if demand continues, it will be a huge challenge. I do not think we foresaw the demand for mechanical and electrical engineers in the energy sector, for example.”
Mr Staniland said the construction sector had been buoyed by projects like the New Street Station redevelopment, the Birmingham Airport runway extension and A45 improvements, while education was also at the forefront of recovery.
“A lot of the building industry recruited temporary workers in 2013 and then the confidence to recruit permanent staff gathered pace.
"There is a 20 per cent increase in demand from the construction sector across all areas, and the demand for temporary staff is 20 per cent up year on year, from bricklayers to quality design engineers.
"The Help to Buy scheme has also fuelled well-publicised growth in the housing market.
“We have seen continuing demand for permanent and temporary teachers. Overall, we have 3,000 temporary workers working for people across the Midlands and we are placing in permanent jobs about 200 people a month.”