Amid mounting pressures from talent shortages, demographic transitions, and widely
publicised pay disputes, public sector recruitment is nearing crisis point. Employers across
healthcare, education, law enforcement, and the civil service are struggling to source
qualified candidates – and secure the loyalty of existing staff.
In the prevailing climate, socio-economic changes are working against the UK’s vital
services. Factors including mass retirement, record-long NHS waiting lists, and the impact
of Brexit and immigration are driving demand to unsustainable levels, leaving public sector
organisations scrambling to build a workforce strong and skilled enough to meet
requirements.
Recent Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) research shows half of public
sector employers have hard-to-fill vacancies, and a similar proportion expects major
resourcing problems in the next six months. Down the line, experts predict debilitating
personnel shortfalls across most key fields.
Adecco’s latest paper – Overcoming Public Sector Talent Shortages – helps employers take
back control. The report examines the current state of the public sector workforce and
provides short, medium, and long-term strategies to tackle critical skills gaps within the
UK’s core services.
Factors behind the talent shortfall
Far-reaching demographic shifts have contributed to the sector’s significant talent
shortage. The UK’s ageing population is not only placing a heavier burden on existing public
services, but also necessitating their rapid expansion – particularly across health and
social care.
Crucially, rising vacancy numbers coincide with widescale retirement among the sector’s most
experienced staff. Research from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD) shows that 6% of 55 to 64-year-old workers exit the labour market annually compared
with 3% of 30 to 54-year-olds. In addition, harsh physical and mental demands of employment
in sectors such as healthcare and law enforcement may push older professionals to leave
their roles before the standard retirement age.
