Brexit, coupled with a weaker pound, will push UK businesses to embrace the ‘now economy’ and use technology to plug staffing gaps with temporary workers, digital recruitment platform Adia has said.
The group’s new white paper – Future of Flexible Work – Recruiting in the ‘now economy’ – says that businesses will need to reach quality ‘flexible’ workers faster and in greater numbers, through social media recruiting, app-based technology or other innovative methods.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy suggests there are close to 2.8 million people working in the ‘now economy’ in the UK with those involved generally younger than the rest of the population, with over half (56%) aged 18 to 34.
They are made up of those who choose to earn their main income from flexible work, casual earners who take on flexible work on the side of permanent positions, individuals who take on flexible work in addition to permanent work as a financial necessity and those who have to pursue flexible work but would like a permanent position.
The ‘now economy’ allows employers to offer jobs on a non-permanent basis to reduce the cost of permanent workers; cover holidays/ sick days; meet deadlines; fill in during seasonal peaks; staff large-scale events, and work on temporary contracts or non-permanent campaigns. Businesses like Deliveroo, People Per Hour and AirBnB have all been cited as examples of businesses thriving in the ‘now economy’.
Adia CEO Ernesto Lamaina said: “A recent study by KPMG warned that the hospitality sector would need to recruit another 60,000 workers a year on top of 200,000 staff already required to meet its needs if EU migration is restricted. With all trends now suggesting that the ‘now’ society will grow, businesses must move with it to ensure they are recruiting the kind of quality staff they need to operate.
“As the world of work evolves there will no longer be a requirement or option to employ as many full-time, permanent staff. This is matched by a shift in mindset from younger generations, away from the traditional 9-5 and towards short-term work, which offers them greater autonomy.”
