According to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, which is based on the hiring intentions of 2,101 UK employers, 8% more Scottish employers plan to increase staffing levels than decrease them. This is a jump of five points on the previous quarter and puts Scotland on par with the rest of the UK.
The Commonwealth Games (Glasgow) and the Ryder Cup (Gleneagles) are being held in Scotland over the period. ManpowerGroup UK managing director Mark Cahill says that while this might mean many of the jobs are short-term, this shouldn't necessarily be seen as a negative.
"Based on our involvement with the London Olympics in 2012, we shouldn’t underestimate the impact that an upturn in attitude can have on the outlook of a region," he said. "Research has shown that each £100 million spent as a result of tourism will help support an extra 1,300 full-time positions in the wider Scottish economy."
Cahill added that 70% of jobs created by the Commonwealth Games will be in distribution and catering, which will hopefully give young people an opportunity to "get a foothold into the market".
Independence vote
The results also suggest that, despite uncertainty over the independence vote in September, hiring intentions in the country are yet to suffer. It may take a definite 'yes' vote before organisations change their recruitment activities. One company, Standard Life, has already said it will pull out from Scotland if the country votes for independence.
But ManpowerGroup Solutions UK managing director James Hick told HR magazine that, although few companies "would welcome a 'yes' vote", recruitment is holding up in the region.
Hick said that we would have to "wait and see" if recruitment in the region will continue in the long-term, although he predicted hiring across the whole of the north of the UK will continue at a quick pace.
