Insights from the 2023 Technical Recruitment Landscape
What a year 2023 was. Overall, the
market was filled with positivity, challenges, and at times, unpredictability. Businesses
across multiple sectors took measures to streamline their recruitment processes
in the face of global macroeconomic challenges.
Despite this,
sectors that experienced significant business expansion over the past year—such
as STEM, oil & gas, power, infrastructure, energy, and MOD, witnessed a
notable increase in hiring figures, displaying double-digit growth.
2023 was also an
incredible year for engineers across various disciplines. Of particular
significance, security-cleared engineers stood out as consistently sought-after
roles. Looking ahead to 2024, there's an anticipation that this will persist,
with professionals possessing mission-critical experience and a background in
data centre operations expected to be in high demand.
Charting the Course: Anticipating Trends, Projecting
Growth, and Navigating Recruitment in 2024
Moving forward into 2024, major rail projects are advancing to the next phases, and noteworthy
developments in West London are moving into the construction stage, which we
are poised to support our key clients in. The MOD sector also seems to be
maintaining a stable trajectory, and the Data Centre market continues to grow
as Google announces it’s $1bn investment.
Considering trends for 2024, I believe one of the most
prominent shifts will be the influence of AI in various forms throughout the
recruitment process. At Blueprint, we envision harnessing AI as a powerful tool
working hand-in-hand with our consultants and sales teams, not as a
replacement, but as a catalyst for efficiency.
I think, whilst it is crucial to acknowledge that AI won't
eliminate the need for human expertise, it’s definitely positioned to
significantly enhance various aspects of the hiring process.
Advice for clients and contractors in 2024
My top advice to our clients, would be that strategic planning is essential.
This means proactively forecasting the next 12 months, carefully examining the
pipeline of projects, and planning out the timelines associated with each
initiative.
So, in the pursuit of recruiting both permanent and contract
positions, it is going to be imperative for our clients to formulate
comprehensive resource plans and schedules. This will provide the time
for us to deliver the best quality candidates quickly.
I think flexibility is also key in attracting the right
talent. While location plays a role, recent 2023 trends indicate success in
working with individuals who may not always be physically present in the office
but deliver exceptional results remotely. Being open to flexible work
arrangements and adjusting to the changing dynamics of the workforce, can
support business growth.
Graduates are a desirable talent pool, though there appears
to be a continued lag in investment in entry-level technical roles. For
aspiring graduate engineers, strategic entry points may include positions in
data centres, pharmaceutical companies, or entities focused on nuclear and MOD
projects.
These sectors are stable and offer long-term prospects,
making them attractive options for engineers seeking enduring stability and
professional growth.
2024 aspirations for Blueprint Recruitment
For 2024, we will proceed to foster strong relationships
with both our clients and candidates and continue to give people here within
the company opportunities to grow and develop.
We aim to build on the initiatives that we have implemented
in 2023, notably, our industry-leading Employee Value Proposition (EVP) stands
as a testament to our commitment to creating an exceptional workplace.
We are excited to leverage and expand upon these successes,
continuing to innovate and elevate our standards in service delivery, employee
engagement, and overall organisational excellence.
