Accreditations
Changes to employment patterns may last
23 January 2012
Changes to employment patterns seen in recent figures could impact umbrella services in the long term.
The Office for National Statistics recently revealed that there has been an increase in the number of people becoming self-employed, as well as those working flexibly.
Commenting on the figures, Gillian Econopouly, the Recruitment & Employment Confederation's (REC) head of policy, said that these changes could have a lasting effect on the employment landscape in the UK.
This will impact employers, workers and future government policy.
"One major challenge is to provide independent freelancers and contractors with some form of support network – for example through professional bodies or through specialist recruitment agencies," she explained.
However, figures from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) suggested that many of the newly self-employed are odd-jobbers, with the majority working part-time.
Dr John Philpott, chief economic adviser at the CIPD, said the rise does not suggest an increase in "genuine entrepreneurial zeal".
Filed under: CIPD, self employed, umbrella services