Businesses Continuing To Create Jobs In 2018

Business Insights
07/02/2018

Companies remain optimistic about their ability to generate jobs in the short-term, building on the UK’s record labour market performance, according to the latest CBI/Pertemps Network Group Employment Trends Survey.


The annual survey - in its twentieth year, with 299 respondents employing around 1 million people - found that 51% of firms across the UK expect to grow their workforce in the year ahead, with confidence highest amongst small and mid-sized firms (58%). 93% of respondents reported that a diverse and inclusive workforce is important to the future success of their organisation – up on 76% in 2016.


Skills gaps were found to be the greatest anxiety facing firms, with nearly four in five respondents highlighting this, especially in relation to access to overseas workers, with nearly half of respondents identifying uncertain access to labour supply as a concern.


Neil Carberry, CBI Managing Director for People policy, said:

“Britain’s record on job creation is second to none, and this year’s survey shows that this is set to continue in 2018. However with softening economic growth matched with high employment, the survey again emphasises the vital need to make progress on the Industrial Strategy and secure a good Brexit deal to improve productivity, support job creation and boost pay growth.

“The survey also shows that firms are concerned about finding the right staff in the future and that this is damaging the outlook for investment in the longer term. It’s essential that businesses work to address skills gaps with colleges and other providers – but with high employment rates, domestic training alone can’t meet all our needs. Firms will need to be able to access people from outside the UK to support future growth and deliver the Industrial Strategy.

“With businesses already worried about future access to skills and labour, the worst thing we could do would be to undermine the many EU nationals already here and contributing to our businesses and public services. The recent Brexit deal is a good development if a final deal is reached, but the Government must be clear that the position of EU nationals already in the UK is secure in all scenarios.”


Tracy Evans, Pertemps Network Group HR and Quality Director, said:

“Businesses have had an awful lot to deal with in 2017, from the Apprenticeship Levy to concerns over IR35, yet have still remained lively in the recruitment market with growth occurring in most sectors, as predicted this time last year.

“Although there has been a lot of change in 2017, confidence is high among employers, with most expecting to expand on opportunities in the coming year. One of the big problems we face in recruitment at the moment is the skills gap and how to overcome it. Finding the right staff is obviously key in recruitment and we need to find a solution to this ever-growing problem.”


The survey shows that companies continue to match inflation pay awards where they can. 52% of respondents aim to raise pay for their employees in line with (or above) inflation in the coming year, which is lower than the 57% that planned to do so in 2016. The drop is small, however, relative to the significantly higher rate of inflation that firms face – suggesting that predictions of a moderate increase in the average rate of nominal pay growth in 2018 are accurate.


Matthew Percival, CBI Head of Employment policy, said:

“Living standards have been squeezed in 2017 because of higher inflation. The good news is that despite this, more than half of companies will offer real pay rises next year – despite a slowing economy. Higher productivity is the only sustainable way to increase pay, so it is rightly the focus of business and government through the Industrial Strategy.

“The CBI backs a rising minimum wage. But the path the National Living Wage takes over the next three years will require careful, independent monitoring and the Low Pay Commission must continue to ensure it reflects wider economic performance.”


Businesses are more committed than ever to creating a fair and engaging workplace. The survey shows firms see this as of benefit to them and their staff. 71% of businesses report co-operative employee relations and 72% expect this to continue next year. The survey shows only one in 20 firms see relations as adversarial – with making further improvements to employee engagement scoring as companies’ top internal priority next year. Improving line management is the clear top choice for doing this, according to firms.


Improving inclusion is a key aspect of improving fairness. More than nine in ten respondents (93%) reported that a diverse and inclusive workforce is important to the future success of their organisation, with 70% introducing or extending flexible working opportunities and 66% investing in training for line managers to help boost inclusion. Respondents report a range of benefits of inclusive workplace practices including increased skills (50%) and attraction and retention of staff (52%).