Temporary vacancies in Scotland increase four per cent

The data, provided by recruitment software company, Innovantage, revealed that despite an uplift in temporary roles, permanent vacancies fell, declining 11 per cent year on year. Demand for flexible labour rose across a number of sectors including construction and engineering which recorded uplifts of 12 per cent and 13 per cent respectively.

Commenting on the data, Moya Rylands, Membership Relations Manager for Scotland at APSCo, said: “APSCo’s data clearly demonstrates the rise of the ‘gig economy’ and the increasing trend towards professionals opting to work on a flexible basis. However the rise in temporary positions, coupled with a fall in permanent vacancies, is indicative of a level of uncertainty surrounding hiring since the Brexit vote which has forced some employers to delay permanent hiring decisions and instead rely on flexible labour.

“Temporary professionals are being increasingly sought after in the construction sector, with demand rising 12% year on year to April. This is perhaps unsurprising given the huge number of construction projects – such as the QueensFerry Crossing – that have taken place in recent months. However the rise in demand across the flexible labour market can largely be attributed to the ever rising skills shortages facing the construction sector. And with recent research from planning consultancy, Arcadis revealing that the UK will need more than 400,000 workers every year for the next five years to meet potential building and infrastructure projects, the situation could be exacerbated.”