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Flexible approach needed to assist Scotland’s jobs market

The REC has responded to the rise in Scotland’s unemployment figures to 239,000 in the quarter to July.

Commenting on the upward trend and on the immediate priorities for the Scottish jobs market, Lisa Boutineau, regional director for  REC Scotland, said: 

“As Scotland has been one of the regions most hardest hit, we need urgent action to boost our labour market. The feedback from recruitment professionals shows increasing hiring activity in some sectors but there are major challenges facing specific groups of jobseekers - particularly young people wanting to break into one of the most competitive labour markets in recent times. As an industry, we are working with employers and education providers to help build better bridges into the world of work and to spearhead a radical shake-up in the support and guidance offered to the increasing number of job-seekers.” 

Lisa Boutineau added:

“Our biggest concern is whether the private sector can absorb the predicted fall-out from the forecast public sector cuts. The risk is that this could deliver a further set-back to the already fragile jobs market. Rather than simply looking for short-term cuts in the public sector, we need to drive more deep-rooted reform and develop flexible staffing models that provide opportunities for job-seekers as well as cost-effective ways of delivering services. Other priorities must include boosting private sector job creation and entrepreneurship   - in particular, by stripping layers of red tape from existing and forthcoming employment regulations and through tax incentives.”