Economic Upturn Is Creating More Jobs, Says Blue Eskimo
WorldTalk
Learning recruitment specialist Blue Eskimo says that the improving economy is driving greater demand for learning professionals in both permanent and contract roles.
With recent news that the UK economy has grown by 3.2% in the second quarter of 2014, compared to the same time last year, it looks as though economic growth is stabilising. The services sector (almost 80% of the economy) grew by 1%.
For learning professionals, this is great news, says Blue Eskimo’s Nick Bate. “Recruitment is typically ahead of the financial curve and is a great economic indicator,” says Bate. “As we came towards the end of 2013, training companies and learning departments started taking on more people – or replacing people who’d moved on. This year there’s been a significant recruitment drive across the board.”
According to Blue Eskimo, both permanent and contracting opportunities are on the rise.
“There are a lot of great opportunities out there,” says Bate, “though competition is strong – there’s something of a skills gap in many areas, so really talented people are in demand.”
Blue Eskimo’s salary and work survey of 2013 showed that 63% of people were looking for a new job in 2014.
Bate believes that for many, 2014 could be a great year for change. “Lots of the roles we’re recruiting for could be a great step forward for someone’s career,” he says. “Not just ‘more of the same’, but real career advancement. And for those thinking of moving into contracting, the work is definitely out there.”
Workplace Stress Leads to Less Productive Employees
Employees suffering from high stress levels have lower engagement, are less productive and have higher absentee levels than those not operating under excessive pressure, according to research from professional services firm Towers Watson.
According to Towers Watson’s Global Benefits Attitudes survey*, levels of workplace disengagement significantly increase when employees experience high levels of stress.
The research shows that of those employees who claimed to be experiencing high stress levels, over half (57%) also reported that they were disengaged.
In contrast, only one in ten (10%) employees claiming low stress levels said they were disengaged and half of this group claimed to be highly engaged.
Rebekah Haymes, senior consultant at Towers Watson said: “The research clearly shows the destructive link between high levels of stress and reduced productivity. A third of respondents said they are often bothered by excessive pressure in their job and this can lead to higher instances of disengagement and absenteeism – clear indicators of low productivity in the workplace.”
Inadequate staffing was the biggest cause cited by employees with over half (53%) naming it as a top cause of workplace stress. However, few employers consider this to be a major problem, with only 15% of senior managers acknowledging it as a cause of stress in their organization.
Conversely, a third (34%) of employers thought technology that made employees available outside working hours was one of the top causes of stress but employees largely disagreed, with only 8% listing it as a contributor to workplace pressure.
12 | TRAINING MAGAZINE MIDDLE EAST OCT 2014