Navigating the UK's Tight Job Market: How Background Screening Can Help You Recruit the Right Candidates
If you’re struggling to find job candidates at the moment, you’re not alone.
The UK labour market is facing the biggest shortage of all time. Figures from the ONS and REC show record-breaking vacancies in every sector.
The blend of Brexit, the pandemic and “baby boomers” hitting retirement age has meant the workforce has shrunk enormously. Businesses across the UK are now facing huge competition for workers.
No end in sight
Many expected the demand for workers would be mitigated by the UK’s economic instability. Figures do indeed show that the combination of high inflation rates and slow growth has lessened the appetite for recruitment.
However, the demand for workers hasn’t been reversed. This has been a boon for the temporary job market. 2022 saw the number of temporary workers employed in the UK is at its highest level since 2014.
But employers trying to fill full-time roles are still facing great difficulty. Many businesses have boosted their salary offerings, but with rising costs, this isn’t a sustainable option for some.
Can background screening help?
With increased competition for skilled workers, employers are now looking for ways to ensure they are hiring the best candidates. One way to do this is through background screening.
Background screening refers to a range of checks that can be carried out to determine and individuals' history.
This could be their criminal, financial, and personal history, as well as their qualifications and references.
Utilising this information can help employers to identify potential red flags and ensure that they are hiring someone who is trustworthy, reliable, and qualified for the job.
In order to benefit from background screening, you should consider the following:
Use a professional background screening company: Using an accredited screening company like Personnel Checks means you can be confident the checks you’re conducting are compliant. There are many unscrupulous screening companies out there that don’t offer a proper service.
Reference Checks: While it may seem obvious to carry out reference checks, many employers don’ take them seriously enough. Thorough reference checks will give you an idea of the candidate's work ethic, skills, and qualifications.
Social Media Checks: This type of check is controversial, as there is no standardised way of conducting them. However, they can be incredibly useful to get a clear idea about the way potential employees present themselves online.
Media Checks: These checks search for references to an individual in traditional media outlets such as newspapers. This can help identify adverse history which could impact someone in a public facing role.
However, it is important to note that background screening should be used as part of a comprehensive recruitment process, and not as the only means of selecting a candidate.
Employers should also conduct face-to-face interviews and skill tests to get a better understanding of the candidate's qualifications and fit for the role.
Need more info?
For more information on how background screening can help you recruit, get in touch today! Just click here to submit a contact form.