The Recruitment & Employment Confederation's latest figures suggest a marked upturn in the number of permanent placements for security operatives
The 'Report on Jobs' – just published By THE Recruitment & Employment Confederation and Deloitte as Security Management Today (SMT) went to press – shows that the number of permanent staff placements and temporary staff billings rose markedly (and at "accelerating rates") immediately prior to the Christmas break, with demand for staff from employers showing its sharpest increase since February 2001.

Recruitment consultancies are currently suggesting that the strengthening demand for security operatives is down to rising workloads in tandem with improved business confidence. Apparently, the most noticeable increase in demand has been taking place in the hotel and catering sector.

Del Hunter of specialist recruitment consultant SSR Personnel told SMT that a 40% increase in vacancies (year on year) and forecasts for the next quarter show no sign of a let up.

While the changes within the installation sector slowed markedly in the first quarter of 2003 that trend has now been reversed, with demand up by 15%. The guarding sector remains buoyant, with employers reporting unfilled vacancies running at 13-20% and staff turnover remaining high. That particular situation is unlikely to change in the short term.

The report also states that, although overall staff availability marginally improved, pockets of skill shortages exerted upward pressure on salaries awarded to people placed in permanent jobs, as well as the hourly pay rates of temporary staff (both of which rose at their fastest rate for three years). The worst impact has been felt by sales and marketing staff, compensated for by changes to commission structures.

Last year, claims the report, average earnings in the security industry rose by 3.4%.