It is thought that some 500,000 temporary employment contracts could be terminated due to the Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) coming into force in October.
Work by Allen & Overy reveals that 33% of medium to large UK businesses might avoid increased costs by terminating agency worker contracts before the 1st October when the 12-week qualifying period for equal pay and benefits starts.
Confidence is high among supply teachers at the moment. New research shows that only 8% of supply teachers currently spend 90 days or more without work, down from 13% last year. This is great news for temporary teachers who have struggled to find work over recent years. Supply teachers who do part time or temporary work are vital to the education system and this work model allows many great teachers to stay in the sector.
Priorities of supply teachers are changing in the current economic climate. Supply teachers want longer term contracts of employment as opposed to higher pay. The Giant Group (a contractor services provider) has done some research that proves that higher pay is not the main motivator. The instability in the economy means that supply teachers want job security and contracts that will continue rather than a stop and start in an interim cycle.
The UK job market has hit it’s lowest level of growth in 10 months. It raises new concerns about the strength and stability of the UK employment market. The public sector and some other sectors are beginning to feel job shortages.
Although job numbers have fallen for the first time in almost a year. There are some opportunities in some sectors, such as chefs, nurses, HR, finance, engineers and internet developers where vacancies still exist and skilled workers can source employment in both permanent and temporary jobs.
A recent bid for government funding was successful for the Tyne and Wear City Region Partnership. They have been awarded £22m in funding to support the creation of 3,450 new jobs for 18 to 24-year-old, and long-term, unemployed people in the north east.
Suggestions infer that the programme will create 1,052 in the public sector, 1,643 jobs in the community and voluntary sector and 755 private sector posts across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham over the next 18 months
