Article 50: Recruitment industry responds

Last week, as Britain’s EU Ambassador gave official notice of the UK’s decision to leave the EU to the European Council under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, leaders from the recruitment industry bodies had their say.

Maintaining UK’s economic growth and prosperity will be essential for the health of the recruitment industry, as the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC)’s Chief Executive Kevin Green elaborated: “The UK labour market has performed well since the EU referendum. Employers are continuing to create jobs and employment has reached record levels. As Brexit negotiations begin, we need the government to prioritise a deal which creates more jobs and prosperity.”

Samantha Hurley, Operations Director at APSCo, added: “We welcome the fact that Article 50 has finally been triggered as this marks the beginning of the end of a period of perceived uncertainty for the professional recruitment sector.

“Many of the issues that are likely to arise from Brexit will have either a direct or indirect impact on professional recruitment. Since June 2016 our members have been asking questions around how the UK’s exit will impact our sector, and now official negotiations are set to begin it is only a matter of time until we will receive answers, which allow businesses to plan accordingly.”

How Brexit will affect the recruitment sector in the long-term is unknown, but access to talent and availability of candidates post-Brexit emerged as a major concern in the face of skills gaps and talent shortages in fields such as cyber security, digital and nursing.

Kevin Green: “The UK has near-full employment and recruiters are saying the task of filling vacancies is becoming more difficult. EU workers are more likely to fill labour and skills gaps in industries that persistently report unfilled vacancies and skills shortages. We need an immigration system which reflects this reliance on workers from the EU. Everyone loses if UK employers can’t hire the people they need.”

Samantha Hurley echoed this view: “Access to talent is a top consideration. When APSCo surveyed members on notable post-Brexit risks after the referendum, 83% were worried about the availability of candidates post-Brexit. It is critical that recruiters can continue to find the best available talent either from within the UK, the EU or elsewhere. Conversely, it is critical that UK professionals can continue to work throughout the EU.”

The status of EU nationals currently working here in the UK is another important consideration for recruiters and employers.

Commenting on the European Parliament’s vote pushing for a post-Brexit deal between the EU and the UK that protects current and future workplace rights, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“Workers’ rights must be at the heart of Britain’s deal with the EU. It must protect current rights, like paid holidays, equal pay, and fairness for agency workers. And it must guarantee a level playing field into the future, so working people in Britain don’t fall behind our European neighbours.

“The Prime Minister should welcome the European Parliament’s commitment to workers’ rights in the UK. It gives her a great opportunity to put into action her promise to protect and enhance working people’s rights.  A strong agreement on rights at work must be the starting point for negotiating a good deal that works for business and working people.”