Adecco's Brexit Tracker Finds Over Half of UK Businesses Unsure About Post-Brexit Recruitment

LONDON, September 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Over half of UK businesses believe they don't have enough information to start making decisions about their post-Brexit recruitment strategy, with 44% not undertaking any action related to their workforce yet.

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The tracker, compiled from data collected as part of the CIPD/The Adecco Group Labour Market Outlook (LMO), Summer 2018 report, has previously seen a steady rise in the number of businesses who feel they have enough information to start making post-Brexit plans. This quarter, however, saw the first drop since the report's inception, with only 29% of UK businesses confident about the amount of information they have.

The region with the least confidence in making decisions around Brexit is Scotland, with only 25% of respondents feeling like they have enough information to make post-Brexit recruitment decisions. Organisations in the Midlands (35%) feel the most confident. London comes in third, at 33%, after the South of England (34%).

Worryingly, the number of businesses who have carried out talent management or recruitment strategy reviews also failed to rise for the first time, staying at 13% since last quarter.

Alex Fleming, Country Head and President of Staffing and Solutions, The Adecco Group UK and Ireland, said: "Our tracker shows that post-Brexit recruitment planning is coming to a standstill because businesses don't have enough information to make informed plans. It is still yet to be seen whether the Government's recent Brexit strategy whitepaper will create an uplift in certainty. We suggest that businesses take the initiative now, and start planning for a variety of Brexit outcomes."

The most popular response to Brexit - and has remained so across all five Brexit trackers - is for employers to actively discuss Brexit with their workforce. This report found that nearly one in five (19%) employers have done so.

Alex continued: "Those organisations that openly talk about Brexit to their workforce are better placed to understand the make-up of their teams, and areas that might be of concern after the UK leaves the EU. This is the best way to prepare for inevitable change, against the backdrop of external uncertainty. Learn about your own workforce, and how Brexit might impact you; this will help regardless of the shape Brexit will ultimately take."

Notes:

• This latest LMO survey, that the Brexit tracker is based on, had responses from 2,001 HR professionals and senior decision-makers. The figures have been weighted and are representative of UK business by size, sector and industry.
• The survey was carried out online and fieldwork was undertaken between 11 June and 2 July 2018.
• The Brexit tracker can be found online here.

About The Adecco Group UK and Ireland

The Adecco Group UK&I and its brands are part of The Adecco Group, the world's leading HR solutions partner. As a Group, we provide more than 700,000 people with permanent and flexible employment every day. With more than 34,000 employees in 60 countries - 3,100 in the UK&I - we transform the world of work one job at a time. Our colleagues serve more than 100,000 organisations with the talent, HR services and cutting-edge technology they need to succeed in an ever-changing global economy. As a Fortune Global 500 company, we lead by example, creating shared value that meets social needs while driving business innovation. Our culture of inclusivity, fairness and teamwork empowers individuals and organisations, fuels economies, and builds better societies. These values resonate with our employees, who voted us number 2 on the Great Place to Work - World's Best Workplaces 2017 list. We make the future work for everyone.

The Adecco Group is based in Zurich, Switzerland. Adecco Group AG is registered in Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ADEN). The Group is powered by nine lead brands: Adecco, Modis, Badenoch & Clark, Spring Professional, Lee Hecht Harrison, Pontoon, Adia, General Assembly and YOSS.

The Adecco Group UK&I's head office is located in London, UK. We have 11 brands, including the Adecco Group UK&I, Adecco, Adia, Ajilon, Badenoch & Clark, Modis, Office Angels, Penna, Pontoon, Roevin and Spring.

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