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Britain’s businesses are looking forward to a positive future as optimism about job prospects continues to grow.
According to a series of recent research, workers from various industries are anticipating employment growth over coming months with the continued economic recovery behind most of the positive sentiment.
More pay, more jobs
In a press release published by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), the UK’s companies were found to be increasing the wages that they offered to staff as well as increasing the number of job opportunities which are available.
Overall, data confirmed that more than half of the firms questioned (54%) expected to increase their workforce in the next 12 months. For 59% of companies, employee wage packets had increased in accordance with last year’s rate of inflation or even surpassed it in some instances.
This helped to push the number of firms offering their employees the Living Wage to 57% with catering and accommodation sectors the most likely to only offer this rate of pay to some of their staff rather than rolling it out as a company-wide policy.
Self employed optimism
It isn’t just big businesses that are looking forward to 2015 though, Britain’s self-employed workers are also optimistic about the year to come.
Procorre consultants reported that 57% of self-employed contractors are optimistic about their work prospects for the new 12 months with the pick-up of the national economy fuelling this positivity.
Their research found that despite contractors struggling in recent months – with just over one third (34%) claiming they found it “easy” to find employment in the last year – many were now looking forward to a positive year of growth and development. In fact, just under half (47%) had already experienced renewed economic growth and activity in their sector when questioned by Procorre oil & gas consultants.
Renewed spending
All this positivity means that spending is likely to be renewed throughout many firms and self-employed outfits; supporting further growth in the UK economy.
In order to maintain this level of activity and growth, businesses, employers and individuals will need to take careful stock of current regulations and ensure they’re providing the right opportunities and incentives to attract more employees.
This would include things like paying the Living Wage, offering flexible remote working and zero contract hours but according to key findings reported by the BCC, not all businesses are up to speed with these schemes.
Around 57% of businesses pay their staff the Living Wage and 68% offer flexible working but only 38% support remote working and a mere 13% offer childcare provisions.
Zero contract hours are supported by an even smaller 11% of companies while paternity leave and pay regulations remain a concern for 60% who are worried these factors could negatively influence their business activity.