Offline routes, such as advertising in newspapers and magazines, were used by almost four in 10 (37%) respondents. Only three in 10 (31%) posted online job adverts, a quarter (25%) used LinkedIn, and less than one in five (19%) utilised social media.
Just one in 25 (4%) respondents looked outside of the UK to source talent, and 78% of companies restricted their search to the local area.
The Upwork study reported that it takes UK businesses more than a month on average (34 days) to find and hire new talent, with one in seven (14%) taking longer than two months to find the right person.
Country manager, UK and Ireland for Upwork Hayley Conick said this inefficiency is costing UK business: “It’s particularly worrying to learn that UK businesses are being prevented from growing, both in terms of winning new work and losing existing clients as a result of inefficient processes for finding talent."
She added: “Today businesses have access to a global pool of talent at the click of a button. However, when only 4% are looking beyond UK borders is it any wonder we’re falling behind?”
