What you need to know about the jobs market in Oxfordshire

There is little doubt that 2023 will be a tough year for businesses and the people they employ. Recruiting and retaining the right staff to maintain your culture and deliver successful and profitable outcomes, will continue to be key.

Talented support teams are at the heart of every successful business. They are fundamental to the smooth running of any operation and provide the infrastructure which organisations rely on to deliver their services and products, expertly and efficiently.

Oxfordshire has one of the tightest labour markets in the UK and demand for experienced and competent staff for temporary and permanent roles in PA and Administration, HR, Marketing and Finance is as high as it has ever been.

The economic challenges are (as yet) having little impact on the candidate shortages which have characterised the Oxfordshire recruitment market for the last couple of years. Oxford has one of the fastest growing economies in the UK, unemployment is very low, jobseekers are cautious and demanding, and the best people are particularly discerning with multiple offers and counter offers to tempt them.

On top of this, we have a gaping hole in the potential labour market created by older workers who withdrew from the workforce during the Covid pandemic and have yet to be persuaded to return; EU workers who have not returned to the UK post Brexit; and people on long-term leave due to sickness or injury who are stuck on NHS waiting lists and cannot work until they are better.

This is a continuation of the themes and trends highlighted in 2022. Fortunately, there are practical steps that employers can take in 2023 to successfully attract the candidates they need.

The key is to be open to a new and more diverse approach to recruitment; not to be afraid to shake things up a bit; emphasise everything that makes you a great employer; continue to be flexible and make sure you can act quickly and decisively.

We are here to advise and support you, so if you’re finding it difficult to attract the people you need, please don’t hesitate to contact us at hello@allen-associates.co.uk

We have pre-interviewed candidates actively looking for permanent and temporary roles in Oxfordshire, available now.