Observations and insights from Howarth Morris Financial Selection

Howarth Morris is the North West’s leading, independent financial recruiter, widely acknowledged as the most experienced recruitment team operating in the region.

This ‘How’s the Market?’ update is the first in an occasional series of information-based communications aimed to provide finance professionals with a ‘coal-face’ insight into factors and sentiments affecting recruitment issues.

‘Highly commended’ by CIMA in the category of Best Recruitment Consultancy of the Year 2010, our success is testament to the outstanding service and advice provided to our clients and candidates. Our regularly interaction with the finance professionals we work with allows us a unique insight into the sentiment of businesses ranging from start-up and owner-managed businesses through to blue-chip, multinationals operating in the North West.

Pre – 2009 – The Bull Market

• In the 2-4 years immediately prior to the recession, recruitment activity continued to grow quarter on quarter leading to an environment where the candidates held the upper hand in the recruitment equation.

• Businesses and business confidence continued to grow at an unprecedented rate and employment opportunities followed this trend.

• Candidates became a scarce resource, as demand outpaced supply, meaning that many candidates received lucrative offers within 7 days of commencing their search.

• The battle for this resource meant that salaries and salary expectations continually rose in excess of general inflation.  Companies showed little concern for this development, recruitment agencies and candidates embraced it, and these continual increases in costs incubated longer term issues for businesses which would be realised through 2009.

Click here to read part 2 of the “How’s the Market?” report.

Click here to read part 3 of the “How’s the Market?” report.

Click here to read the full report in .pdf format.

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