UK – Skills Gap: Recruiters search abroad

A skills gap in the UK is driving demand for immigration professionals to source staff from abroad.

A focus group study of more than 50 immigration professionals working across the sector commissioned by recruiter JAM revealed that Asia is the most popular talent hunting ground for UK organisations.

Skills shortages in the UK are the primary driver behind demand for immigration services, but increased legislation is making the jobs of immigration professionals more difficult

Three quarters of the panel, which included solicitors, consultants and paralegals, said the UK’s acute skills shortage was likely to be the main driver behind demand for immigration consultancy services over the next 18 months, with just a quarter of panellists believing that growth in the UK economy would lead to a requirement for imported talent.

The panel also revealed that economic uncertainty is the greatest challenge facing the sector, with over half of those taking part identifying this as a major issue. Staying abreast of changes to Government legislation was also recognised as a major challenge for immigration professionals with a quarter saying this often proved difficult…

via HR Magazine – UK skills gap prompts recruiters to search for staff further afield, reports JAM Recruitment.