Research shows increase in demand for HR and recruitment professionals

Demand for HR professionals and recruitment specialists increased in March 2017, up by 4 per cent and 12 per cent respectively from March 2016, according to data from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo).

The data identified the top sectors for job growth within HR over the past 12 months, with advertising seeing the highest growth at 34 per cent, followed by media at 33 per cent.

Demand

The data showed that Greater London has the most vacancies in HR, with over 40 per cent of job roles in the country being based in the region.

Several regions saw an increase in demand for HR jobs, including the West Midlands and the South East, with a growth of 4 per cent and 11 per cent respectively.

Separate research from Adzuna also showed an increase in salaries for HR and recruitment jobs over the past 12 months, with a rise of 7.2 per cent. Graduate salaries were also found to have risen by 4.5 per cent over the same period.

Resilient

Commenting on APSCo’s research, APSCo Chief Executive Ann Swain said: “The fact that demand for HR professionals has increased year-on-year is unsurprising when you consider the current level of wider geopolitical uncertainty.”

She said that the ability for a company to thrive in a world after Brexit relies on it being able to attract and retain crucial skills.

She added that potential changes in legislation that are associated with Britain’s exit from the EU, and also a new government, mean that organisations are recruiting experts in this area to make sure that they are prepared for, and are resilient to, change.