Internet recruitment leads the way

Citation

(2000), "Internet recruitment leads the way", Journal of Management Development, Vol. 19 No. 10. https://doi.org/10.1108/jmd.2000.02619jab.003

Internet recruitment leads the way

Internet recruitment leads the way

Keywords Recruitment advertising, Labour market, Internet

Nearly half of all employers are now using the Internet to recruit new staff, according to the fourth annual recruitment survey by the Institute of Personnel and Development. The survey, released on Tuesday 23 May 2000, highlights the growth in usage from 36 per cent in 1999 to 47 per cent, based on matched samples 12 months later.

This year's survey explores for the first time how electronic media are being used as part of the recruitment process. Three main uses have been highlighted; these are the use of application forms being sent in by e-mail – reported by 66 per cent of respondents; companies putting vacancies on their own intranets – reported by 62 per cent of respondents; and use of their own Web sites to advertise positions – reported by 43 per cent of respondents.

The Internet is more likely to be used to advertise vacancies for professional staff than it is for managerial – 42 per cent against 36 per cent, or skilled manual workers 23 per cent; though there has been a marked increase in usage for all areas, in particular skilled manuals where usage has doubled in a year from 12 per cent to 23 per cent.

Imogen Daniels, IPD adviser in employee resourcing comments, "The Internet as a recruitment tool is here to stay. I anticipate more and more employers switching to this method of recruitment. However our research shows that despite the increase, only 1 per cent of recruiters for professional positions viewed it as a useful method, and only 2 per cent of those recruiting for managerial or skilled positions viewed it as being more effective than other ways of recruiting. This may change as more jobs are offered online and job seekers are encouraged to use electronic media."

Elsewhere in the recruitment survey there is evidence of an easing of recruitment difficulties despite a tightening labour market. Interestingly, overall, employers reported an 8 per cent drop in recruitment difficulties compared with last year. Of most concern are the number of respondents (45 per cent) who report difficulties in recruiting to professional posts. Lack of experience is cited as the main reason for failing to fill posts (70 per cent) followed closely by a lack of technical skills (64 per cent). The number of organisations stating that applicants want more money has fallen by over 20 per cent down to 42 per cent; and there has been a decline in the overall number reporting that applicants lacked technical skills, down from 74 per cent to 62 per cent.

As Ms Daniels says, "Despite a tightening labour market employers have faced comparatively fewer recruitment difficulties this year compared with last. This may indicate, among other things, that recruiters are beginning to be more realistic about who they are likely to employ given the tightness of today's labour market. It may also show that the larger number of young people, often with better qualifications, coming through the education system are making recruitment decisions slightly easier for employers."