The Challenge
Oxfordshire has an extremely tight labour market with low levels of unemployment and high job density. Low employment coupled with a shortage of people actively searching for work is causing recruitment and retention issues for employers across the county.
Unemployment increased significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic - though it has been decreasing since 2021 it has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. As well as the people who are registered as unemployed there is also an additional group who are classed as ‘economically inactive’. This means that they are not in employment for a range of reasons and are not claiming for support from the state. Groups within the ‘economically inactive’ include people like students and people who are retired but there are also people who have been unable to find employment for a variety of reasons but are talented, motivated candidates who with the right support and opportunity can help address the county’s skill shortage.
Challenges for Employers
Over half of employers struggle to fill vacancies due to skills shortages, according to The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Thinking outside the box about recruitment and exploring new talent pools can help to overcome such challenges.
Challenges for Employees
UK unemployment is at its lowest rate for years and overall employment rates for women and young people are rising. However, people furthest from the labour market are still being left behind. Youth unemployment is still high. People with disabilities still struggle to gain employment and ex-military personnel are almost twice as likely to be unemployed as civilians. People with criminal convictions are still widely discriminated against and, despite having the right to work, refugees face barriers in terms of qualifications, language and documentation.
Supporting evidence
Recruiting inclusively is beneficial to employers as well as employees. An inclusive recruitment strategy gives companies an edge over competitors and makes them an employer of choice. Being an inclusive employer can bring benefits of improved recruitment and retention of staff as well as accessible, stable, fairly paid work for employees helping to address some of the key issues faced in Oxfordshire. Aside from the very real, positive impact of changing individuals’ lives, employing a more diverse workforce can benefit your business in the following way:
• Resolve skills shortages
• Be cost-effective
• Increase staff retention
• Reduce staff absence
• Improve client relationships
• Upskill the existing workforce and boost morale
• Demonstrate a social conscience
• Boost corporate reputation
What we're doing
Our focus is on both encouraging employers to be more inclusive and helping specific groups of potential employees who are more likely to experience barriers to accessing employment such as migrants/refugees, people aged 16-25 and 50+, people returning to work after a long break, and people from ethnic minorities.
Creating opportunities for individuals in our county creates opportunities for businesses and for employers, including growing the local labour market with improved skills and access to a greater diversity of talent and capabilities.
The adoption of inclusive recruitment policies can prove beneficial to employers as well as employees by maximising an innovative workforce. An inclusive recruitment strategy gives companies an edge over competitors and makes them an employer of choice.
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Chaired by: Richard Venables
Richard Venables
Richard is an Oxfordshire native who studied Geography at Exeter University before qualifying as a Chartered Surveyor in London in 1993. He returned to Oxford that same year and has since specialized in providing commercial property advice. Richard is currently a trustee of Oxfordshire Youth, Active Oxfordshire, and Experience Oxfordshire. He is also a member of the Oxford Economic Growth Steering Group and is a Vice President of the Oxford Civic Society. Richard is actively engaged with sport through the charity Access Sport and is part of the founding team of Horspath parkrun.
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