Posted by Alex Turner
Contractors working through an umbrella company in the UK have been told that new agency workers' regulations (AWR) have had little impact on the country's recruitment levels.
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation's (REC) latest Report on Jobs revealed that while contract staff billings fell slightly for the second month running, the latest figures show an improvement on those recorded in December.
Kevin Green, the REC's chief executive, said that the AWR has not dented employer's demand to make use of the UK's flexible workforce.
"Although temporary billings have contracted slightly over recent months, the latest figures show an improvement on December," he confirmed.
"This confirms that there is still little evidence that the Agency Workers Regulations have had a significant impact on hiring and employers are still making considerable use of flexible working arrangements."
The expert added that improved career guidance will be vital as recruiters attempt to bridge the gap between what "employers are looking for and what jobseekers can offer".