What do the latest employment figures mean for umbrella company contractors?
On Wednesday, the ONS revealed that unemployment in the UK had fallen for the second consecutive month, but candidates and employers still remain cautious.
public sector
Public sector pay freeze could cause more harm than good
In June, George Osborne announced a two year public sector freeze on pay for those employees earning in excess of £21,000 but this will have a detrimental effect according to research carried out by the Institute of Payroll Professionals.
Scottish employment recovery stalls
The Scottish economy continued to improve in July, but this improvement did nothing to boost employment levels.
The UK’s workforce is working harder!
We’re working harder than ever and struggling to find enough time for leisure activities, according to a survey by Randstad.
REC reports grim news on interim jobs
Demand for contractors dropped in July according to the latest Report on jobs from the REC. This fall is mainly attributed to public sector cuts.
Umbrella company public sector interims make economic sense
IMS Executive Ltd recently conducted a survey of 2,000 public sector Interim Executives, including those from umbrella companies, to find out how willing they would be to reduce their daily rates.
Small businesses are feeling less than optimistic
The Voice of Small Business Index shows that confidence amongst SMEs deteriorated in the 2nd quarter of 2010.
Government cost cutting to harm contractors?
The government’s public sector spending cuts will affect everybody including IT contractors and suppliers.
Sluggish private sector recovery sparks fears in Scotland
The Scottish private sector recovery slowed down last month according to June’s purchasing managers index from the Bank of Scotland. This development could affect umbrella company contractors operating in Scotland.
Future not so bright for freelancers in the public sector
Freelancers and contractors who rely on the public sector for contracts could find themselves struggling to find work according to the CIPD.
Concerns over affects of tax hikes and spending cuts
George Osborne is due to give his emergency budget on June 22nd and it seems everybody wants to give him advice! Any measure introduced could affect umbrella companies.
Public sector contracts unlikely to dry up immediately
Umbrella company contractors working in the public sector can take comfort from recent comments made by Sir Peter Gershon. Gershon has already published a review into public sector efficiency in the UK and he was a special adviser to the Tories during the run up to the recent election.
Public sector cuts could impact umbrella companies
The CIPD has predicted that half a million jobs could be cut in the public sector over the next 5 years. This could be potentially damaging to the umbrella company industry, since many workers reside in this sector.