Optimism For Jobs In Essex

News that 250 jobs were to go at Epping Forest Council was the latest in a series of bad news days for jobs in Essex. However looking towards the long term the future looks a little brighter.

This month we officially emerged from the recession with a staggering growth rate of 0.1 per cent. It provoked derision from many quarters and the mood around the country certain hasn't picked up. Do you feel 0.1 per cent richer? Who can say?

However the news was significant for several reasons. It marks a transition to a new phase of the recession in the UK. We are now in recovery phase and businesses, after a long period of contraction, are beginning to look to the future. That means many more will be looking towards recruitment in the short to medium term and that spells good news for jobs in Essex.

Even so the jobs market in the county is far from clear cut. It is saturated with a higher level of skilled unemployed workers than at any time in recent memory. It can be difficult for those individuals to make themselves heard. Some jobs had application rates of over 300 for the same role. How do you go about sifting out the relevent CVs from that mess? The result is that finding reliable staff can be a bit of a lottery.

Many firms have therefore decided to use the services of an employment agency. By performing the role of an HR department they can take much of the strain, sift out the promising candidates from those who are just taking the chance and hopefully provide a final list of suitable qualified candidates. For those looking for jobs in Essex they offer a good level of local knowledge and expertise.

That is the theory at any rate. As in any other service there are good and bad agencies just as there are good and bad employers. Firms often say they are disappointed with the level of service on offer. Many refuse point blank to deal with employment agencies.

Candidates also express themselves disatisfied. Many say they feel messed around by the agent. Rather than providing a link between candidate and employer they simply represent another hurdle that has to be overcome. The answer is for firms to use those companies that deliver consistent result. With the outlook for jobs in Essex set to improve there has never been a more important time for employment agencies to be good at what they do.