To wonder if any other employers have struggled to fill positions?

[bitjel]

We have had NO interest in a couple of our roles for over a year and have even gone through then job centre (no help). Is unemployment so low ate the moment that there is no-one to fill roles?

You are not paying enough. Pay an appropriate rate and people will apply.

I'd say it depends entirely on the role.

If you pay the right amount, people will want the job.

We pay well and at a level that reflects the skills and expertise required. .

what is the role/pay and other benefits. You are offering probably a really shitty deal if there is absolutely no interest .

Is it a pretty niche sort of role?

Well you are obviously in competition with other companies who also offer those things, if you want someone you are going to have to offer more.

well, obviously not not (otherwise you would have interest and would be happy to answer the question).

What's the role ?

What are you advertising for what, where are you advertising, where is the job and how much.... All will have a bearing on it.

If it's not attractive in terms of location, role and wage you'll need to think a bit harder.

Then either you're looking for someone who has extremely rare skills or you're not paying as well as you think you are.

Have a look at what your competitors are paying, and offer a higher rate.

I know people struggling to get work, so perhaps it's uneven across the country.

What's the role? Absolutely pointless post without explaining what it actually is.

Sorry, its school minibus drivers.

Honestly depends on the industry, your working structure, level you are asking for and location if you are.requiring them to be office based.... we had issues recruiting senior level ecologists as the experience and qualifications would generally dictate that person is of an age where they may have already settled geographically, kids schools etc

If your trying to recruit waiting staff then maybe the company/ role has a bad reputation have you looked at any reviews on glass door

Can't really tell without more information. Is it a role which requires experience or certain qualifications? Are you advertising in the right place to reach your target workers? Are you entirely on-site? Is it a dead end - ie physical labour which wears out the worker and doesn't offer advancement out of physical labour? Is there sick pay and a pension scheme? You need to find your target demographic and ask them these questions, really. If it's unpleasant to do or unsocial hours you will have to offer a really good package, not just a decent hourly rate.

The most recent job we advertised had 150 applicants.

We

• pay well (benchmarked for our sector)
• offer a choice of wfh, hybrid or office
• hire people anywhere in the UK
• flexible working, part time, full time is available from day one

Most candidates tell us its whf, based anywhere in UK and flexible working that is the attraction.

There are definitely people looking for work
We just advertised for a fairly niche specialist role, and got over 40 applications. Of which we could have happily interviewed at least 10 of them.

You are

• not paying enough
• not advertising in the right place
• have a reputation as a bad employer
• conditions are not attractive.

Have you looked at offering flexible working, potential for salary increase dependent on passing probation period?

I’m guessing low hours? If you only want people to work low hours you’re going to have to pay extra for it. I appreciate in the public sector that’s not always possible. Schools have the same issues with TAs.

Ah School mini bus drivers. It will be a combination of the rubbish pay, early start hours and part time nature thats leading to no applications

Not really, we've had loads of applications for our roles but the company i work for offers above industry pay and benefits.

The per hour rate is not bad at all but I appreciate the lower hours dont help. Start times are around 8 am.
We'll just have to keep trying :)

This. Presumably it's part time, term time only hours on a relatively low wage?

The thing is, a lot of people who want part time hours will typically be parents with kids in school, so they might not want to work at 8am when they're doing the school run.

Might suit someone older who has just retired but wants/needs to work a few hours? Is there any way to target this group?!

Yes I think its the times as well..many of our grandparents would be ideal for this role but they are tied in to the school run themselves.