Despite a small dip toward the end of 2022, job confidence among the UK population remains optimistic amid a cost-of-living crisis and rising inflation, according to Robert Half’s Jobs Confidence Index (JCI).

The Index, in association with the Centre for Economics and Business Research, also warned business leaders that staff are commanding better pay, and that their sense of job security and search confidence is making attraction and retention increasingly challenging.

Overall the Index JCI remains in positive territory at 19.9. The Index also revealed that workers remain confident about their job security, with the search and progression pillar up 1.6 points quarter on quarter. These statistics are indicative of the skills shortages driving up both competition for talent and worker confidence, it added.

Nearly half, or 42.7%, of surveyed employees as part of the JCI said that they feel confident about their career and progression prospects in the next five years. This is in line with the firm’s Candidate Sentiment Survey published earlier in the year which revealed that job seeker confidence is at an all-time high with 47% of those surveyed saying they were looking for a new job, up 8% on last years’ figures. Almost half (43%) of those actively searching for a new role indicated a desire for a better salary. 

According to Robert Half, employers need to strike the right balance between offering competitive remuneration, progression plans and providing other benefits such as learning & development opportunities if a sustainable talent attraction solution is to be developed.

Matt Weston, Senior Managing Director UK & Ireland, at Robert Half, said, “The high jobs confidence we’re seeing in the employment market at a time when the economy is sluggish is understandably putting pressure on corporate budgets as higher salaries are increasingly sought. The challenge for employers will be finding the right balance of financial and non-financial incentives to ensure unrealistic pay rises don’t have a detrimental impact on the bottom line. However, leaders need to be mindful of the fact that, while they can appease staff and new recruits with modest pay rises, with skills in short supply, competitors could easily poach their most valuable resource.”

“While above-inflation pay rises aren’t sustainable for many firms, another talent exodus could soon be on the cards if retention plans aren’t implemented,” Weston added. “Those leaders that find the balance between appropriate financial incentives and other attraction benefits such as training and progression opportunities, will be the ones to beat the competition on a longer-term basis.”