Contractors may be interested to learn that the UK hires more online freelancers than any other European country.
Elance, the online freelance jobs market, recently released survey findings that showed that the UK hires the greatest number of online freelancers, followed by Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Fabio Rosati, the CEO of Elance, said the UK is leading the trend for online workers. Businesses appreciate the flexibility of a freelance workforce and contractors are snapping up online working opportunities now that traditional employment routes are stagnating.
He went on to explain that this trend could be seen across Elance’s platform as companies turn to freelancers and contractors to finish projects and fill skills gaps.
Maybe not surprisingly, companies in London hire the most contractors from the Elance site. However, in recent months, there has been an 89% growth in online hiring from firms in Birmingham and 59% from companies based in Reading.
Meanwhile, the REC will be extolling the virtues of the flexible working market when it participates in the European Employment forum later this month.
Tom Hadley will chair the meeting and will focus on the role recruiters in the private sector can play in national labour markets.
Hadley said he was delighted to be invited to such a high-profile event and says it shows recognition for the role the UK recruitment industry is playing in promoting flexible labour and helping to tackle youth unemployment.
In addition to the opportunity to highlight the REC’s Youth Employment Charter, the Forum in Brussels will provide a great chance to exchange views with other European employment experts, he added.
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Image: CAT5e / RJ-45 by Justin Marty
