A study from The University of Law Business School has found nearly three quarters (73 per cent) of UK businesses are now open to hiring people from anywhere in the UK, rather than just those local to their business. The survey also found that more than a quarter (29 per cent) of those businesses are open to hiring new staff from outside of the UK, as companies look further afield for talent.
The findings are hardly surprising, considering that more than a third (36 per cent) of UK firms have seen an increase in productivity in their staff since working from home was introduced, whilst almost a quarter (24 per cent) have also enjoyed a boost to their profitability.
Interestingly, female decision makers are the most likely to employ a candidate from outside the business’ local area, with more than half (51 per cent) stating they would hire from anywhere in the UK, compared to just 38 per cent of men.
With the demand for remote workers rising there is increased competition in the job market and new qualities looked for among candidates. The study found the top five qualities to be:
1. Self-motivation (41 per cent)
2. Good communication (34 per cent)
3. Adaptability (24 per cent)
4. Organisation (23 per cent)
5. Teamwork (20 per cent)
The data shows that businesses find self-motivation to be the most appealing characteristic when hiring a remote member of staff, with 41 per cent sharing this view. Being able to communicate effectively whilst working remotely away from your colleagues is also a key asset, with a third (34 per cent) of bosses seeking this as a key attribute.
By contrast, despite the challenges many UK workers have faced through the pandemic in the last 12 months, resilience is the least sought-after quality, with only four per cent of employers looking for this in a candidate.
“At the beginning of the pandemic, companies and employers were thrown into a scenario where they had to adopt a working dynamic that would have made a lot of employers nervous to begin with, but many have found it beneficial,” commented a University spokesperson. “With remote working set to grow further in popularity, the job market is now more flexible than ever, however, also more competitive. We are confident our findings will help inspire the next generation of the UK workforce moving forward to be open to opportunities beyond not just their local area.”
