Demand for temporary workers in the UK softens
The number of temporary employees in the UK fell by 3.7% on a seasonally adjusted basis to 1.52m n the three-months from January through to March 2019 when compared to the same period a year ago, according to official figures.
The Office for National Statistics reported that the number of temporary employees as a percentage of total employment was 5.5%, down from 5.8% compared to the same period a year ago. Compared to the previous period ended in January 2019, the number of temporary employees also saw a decrease of 1.1%.
Of the 1.52m temporary employees during the period ended March 2019, approximately 387,200 were temporary because they could not find a permanent job; 451,000 did not want a permanent job; 131,000 had a contract with a period of training; and 558,800 cited other reasons.
The report also found that despite rising recruitment and retention pressures, median basic pay expectations in the 12 months to March 2020 remain at 2%. However, pay expectations have fallen back in the private sector from 2.5% to 2% and have risen in the public sector from 1% to 1.5%.