Demand for professional talent down 11 per cent year-on-year in Scotland

The data, provided by recruitment software company, Innovantage, revealed that even though overall demand has dipped, a number of sectors are still experiencing growth. The construction sector saw an uplift of 27 per cent year on year in contractor vacancies, while demand for professionals in marketing and advertising grew by 22 per cent.

Commenting on the data, Diane Turnbull, Membership Relations Manager for Scotland at APSCO, said: “Following a number of months of growth in Scotland, demand for professional talent in the region has declined by 11% year on year. It is clear that uncertainty surrounding the impending EU referendum has begun to weigh down on business sentiment, as employs adopt more hesitant ‘wait and see’ approach to hiring. However this is a trend being experienced across the UK, and is certainly not exclusive to Scotland alone.”

“The significant rise in demand for professional contractors in the construction sector, is a positive sign of growth with JLL and Glenigan’s Commercial Construction Index indicating that activity in the sector reached a total value of £1.9bn in the first quarter of 2016. This heightened demand will undoubtedly continue as investment into renewable energy in the region increases. Demand for professional talent in the marketing and advertising sector also continues to grow, expanding steadily over the last six months.”