| These days you're never too far away from | | | | comes to using the Internet and social media as a |
| downbeat business news. The Recruitment Industry | | | | job seeking/recruitment medium, with the UK |
| is no exception. The Trade Union Congress has | | | | currently lagging well behind other European countries |
| recently warned that unemployment could reach the | | | | in recruitment-based social networking. Many |
| two million mark in 2009. Worldwide around 51m jobs | | | | recruitment agencies are using these sites to |
| could go, according to the International Labour | | | | advertise and find jobs and potential employees. |
| Organization (ILO). The UN agency says world | | | | The 'Aquent Orange Book 2008-2009' survey found |
| unemployment rate could jump to 7.1% by the end | | | | that between 2% and 7% of UK candidates and |
| of 2009, compared with 6% in 2008 and 5.7% in | | | | employers use social networking websites for |
| 2007. | | | | recruitment purposes. These figures compare to |
| The Report on Jobs published by the REC and KPMG | | | | 39% of German candidates, 34% of French |
| has also drawn attention to labour market weakness | | | | candidates, 30% of Polish candidates and 23% of |
| at the start of 2009 driven by a rapidly declining | | | | candidates from the Netherlands who rate social |
| demand for staff. | | | | networking sites as a preferred method of job |
| The report noted that demand for staff fell at its | | | | seeking - an enthusiasm also shared by 13% to 18% |
| fastest pace since the start of the survey in | | | | of employers in these regions. Sites such as LinkedIn, |
| October 2007 while both permanent and temporary | | | | management tools for "active job seekers" and |
| salaries are declining at record rates. | | | | applications such as Twitter will increase the options |
| Overall vacancy levels fell for an eighth consecutive | | | | for recruitment agencies and job seekers alike. |
| month and availability of staff to fill vacancies | | | | Clearly great opportunities exist for UK job seekers |
| continued to rise strongly in January. The graduate | | | | and recruiters able to apply new technology to build |
| job market is also looking tough according to a | | | | relationships to match employment needs - Not least |
| survey of leading employers. Market Research | | | | in the digital advertising/media and recruitment |
| Company High Fliers reports that of 100 firms | | | | sectors. |
| questioned, recruitment targets had been cut by | | | | It is estimated that over the next four years total |
| 17% for this year. The economic downturn had | | | | recruitment spending internationally will increase 25 |
| particularly hit financial sector recruitment, with 47% | | | | percent, from $58 billion in 2008 to $73 billion in 2012 |
| fewer graduate entry-level jobs. | | | | with online media and full-service employment |
| It's not all doom and gloom though as relatively | | | | agencies likely to benefit most. Online spending will |
| speaking things are still brighter for graduates than in | | | | increase 23.5 percent to a record high of over $11 |
| the past. There are more jobs for graduates now | | | | billion. Opportunity abounds, online especially, for |
| than there were 10 years ago. "The overall trend is | | | | those able to exploit new technology and the |
| up but there have always been ups and downs, " | | | | benefits of tighter, more focused niche job boards |
| said Mike Hill Chief executive of Graduate Prospects | | | | and sites that will generate most of the growth in |
| and Hecsu - the UK's Higher Education Careers | | | | the recruitment arena. |
| Services Unit. | | | | Expect also to see more increases in spending on |
| These Generation Y students along with media savvy | | | | embedded formats including rich media, banners and |
| recruiters might also be best placed to take | | | | video. A significant portion of which (Ad spending |
| advantage of some of the new tools and trends | | | | rising from $522 million in 2007 to reach $10 billion by |
| we're now seeing in the job market place. | | | | 2012), will be spent on job and employer-related |
| There's certainly plenty of room for growth when it | | | | video. |