Lewis Hanrahan, Business Manager at Gi Group
A leading Nottingham recruiter has declared December 2023 its busiest festive month on record, as job seekers looking for temporary work in the run up to Christmas stream into their office.
Gi Group, one of the UK’s biggest HR and Recruitment businesses, which has a city centre branch on Middle Pavement in Nottingham, has reported being 33% busier last month in terms of the number of candidates seeking work, when compared to the previous year’s peak temporary staffing period.
Lewis Hanrahan, Business Manager at Gi Group Nottingham who has worked for the company for more than 4 years, said: “This year has seen a shift in the recruitment landscape as we have experienced a constant high level of candidate interest in Nottingham. In previous years you would expect Black Friday to be your peak time but this year we have experienced a continuous peak. This sort of candidate pattern is a reflection of the well-reported challenges being faced across the UK, with more people than ever before in need of reliable seasonal income, as the effects of the cost-of-living crisis continue and broaden across society.”
UK Labour Market Statistics released by UK Parliament found that from July to September this year the number of people aged between 16-64 in employment in the UK was 75.7% and it was reported by People Management at the end of 2022 that an estimated 16% of UK employees were considering taking an additional job to see them through this year.
As the demand for seasonal employment grows, Lewis reflects on the catalyst that has inevitably created this surge in demand for seasonal work. He added: “I think as the cost-of-living crisis continues to deepen, it is inevitable that candidates on a lower income will have to search for additional work and seasonal jobs are the answer. This type of temporary work is a positive option for those looking to alleviate financial pressures, which is where we come in, to ensure we do our part to support those that need it the most.”
Reported by the Office for National Statistics it is estimated that between September and October 2023 there was an increase of 33,000 UK pay-rolled employees. Industry wide research is revealing that the growing candidate pool is evident across the UK as it has been widely predicted that UK workers will opt for an additional job to cover festive expenses this year.
When talking about these noticeable recruitment trends in relation to sectors, Lewis added: “We have seen a particularly stark increase of candidate and employer demand within ecommerce, warehousing and Distribution Centre roles this year, a trend that has only intensified as we head towards Christmas. Online shopping is certainly not a new phenomenon, but consumer habits are changing with the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis, as people continue to tackle the challenging economic times.
Lewis continues: “Our talent pool now reaches further, geographically, than it has before too. We’re having candidates come to us from outside of Nottingham city centre, where historically the majority of candidates would live a walk or a short bus ride away. We’re getting more people walking in and calling us than ever before. This really motivates our team because they love helping people find the right job. Meeting them in person makes the whole process even more rewarding.”
Gi Group UK is headquartered in Chesterfield in the Midlands. The business employs 500 people and in 2023 is proud to serve almost 1500 clients from 87 locations (26 branches and 61 sites).
Gi Group UK is uniquely committed to the creation of social and economic value for both employers and candidates alike. Gi Group Holding in the UK places one person in work every 90 seconds.
For more information about Gi Group in the UK, please visit: uk.gigroup.com.
