Recruitment trade bodies are calling for stability following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement that will be resigning as leader of the Conservative Party and stepping down as prime minister in the autumn once a successor is found.

Samantha Hurley, Operations Director at the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo), said, “The level of resignations and upheaval across the government is a concern at a time when stability is desperately needed for the country’s economy. The UK is facing a cost-of-living crisis and is feeling the impact of on-going skills shortages that are hitting businesses and individuals alike. We hope that this latest development means stability is on the cards soon and we urge ministers taking up new positions in the Cabinet to work together, and with external associations such as APSCo, to give the UK’s employers and staff the boost they need.”

“We are also keen to ensure that sectors such as healthcare aren’t negatively impacted by the upheaval,” Hurley said. “The NHS and wider health and social care remit has faced a huge number of challenges since the pandemic and is now confronting significant skills shortages. We very much hope that this disruption doesn’t negatively impact the progression of support for the sector that has been in the pipeline for some time and is very much needed, including the plan for digital health and social care.”

Neil Carberry, CEO of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation said, “The fundamentals of our jobs market and economy are strong, but to harness them to drive growth we need a steady hand in government as well as business leadership. With inflation high and growth lower than we would like, firms across the country will look to any new Prime Minister for a clear plan to drive the growth that will support lower taxes and higher spending on our public services.”

The collapse of the government throws into doubt its legislative agenda including the controversial repeal of the ban on agency workers filling in for striking workers.