REC News Updates

‘Students should take more responsibility for career choices, says REC

As we approach this year's A-level results day, the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC), the representative body for the recruitment industry, is urging students to take more responsibility for their career choices.

The REC is concerned that the current skills shortage is clear evidence of a mismatch between the qualifications of jobseekers and the current demands of the labour market. There continues to be a surplus of jobs in a number of sectors that recruiters and employers are unable to fill and this does need to be addressed.

Tom Hadley, the REC's Director of External Relations, said: "Whether you get the results you were expecting or not, the good news is the UK job market offers many opportunities. However, certain sectors really are booming so it is important that people do not to make a choice in isolation, we recommend people look at the vacancies and the current skills shortages before making a decision."

This month's REC/KPMG Report on Jobs showed that the growth in the number of jobs available hit a two-year high while at the same time there was further evidence of skills shortages in key sectors. Engineering and construction alongside IT continue to be short of skilled individuals and offer career opportunities to those looking for both permanent and temporary roles.

The Report emphasised that demand from employers remained buoyant. However, there are concerns that current A-levels and further education courses are not focusing on the areas where the best opportunities exist.

Hadley concluded:

“Further education is not just an investment of time; it now comes at a higher financial cost than ever before. So like any other investment, people should do all they can to ensure they maximise the potential return by researching the course and their potential employment prospects on completion. The best ways of achieving this is through undertaking work experience and developing other life skills. “

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For further information, please contact Alison Henderson, Press Manager, the REC, 020 7009 2157.

NOTES TO EDITORS:
The REC is the association for the £24.5 billion private recruitment and staffing industry in the UK, with over 8,000 recruitment agencies and over 5,500 recruitment consultants in membership. All members must abide by a Code of Professional Practice.

There are 1.2 million temporary workers registered with UK agencies, and up to 1 million temps are deployed in industry, commerce and the public services every day. Temps, from professionally qualified and highly skilled workers to first time market entrants and returners, are a valuable and flexible component of the UK labour market.

The REC is able to speak on all aspects of the labour market, from employment legislation and workplace issues, to skills shortages, implications for the economy of changes in employment levels and the benefits of temporary work.

www.rec.uk.com, 08.04.06

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