Bryan HayA recent study by recruitment firm Indeed Flex has revealed that one in three UK businesses experience understaffing at least once a week due to a lack of available employees. The survey of 400 businesses highlights frequent employee sickness and recruitment challenges as significant factors contributing to these shortages.
The research indicates that a third of the businesses surveyed face difficulties in recruiting enough staff to fill positions, with an equivalent number reporting that their employees are unwilling to work certain days or hours. Additionally, one in four businesses have struggled to fill vacancies this year.
Novo Constare, chief executive of Indeed Flex, shared his insights on the findings: “Employers are fighting hard to fill vacancies, but in such a tight labour market many are forced to leave gaps in their rotas on a regular basis. This is a big problem for the UK economy, as it reduces productivity and can lead to workers doing more overtime and ending up feeling burnt out.”
He further noted: “To get around this problem, two in five businesses are using more temporary workers than they were a year ago. Temps are a crucial part of the labour market, as they provide employers with an immediate and flexible solution to gaps in staffing.”
