Over ½ of permanent employees now open to contract roles amid current climate

58% of professionals in full time work have stated that they would consider switching to a contract role for the right pay; with 43% stating that the primary driver is the current economic climate.

It also seems company culture and workplace perks are declining in value; with just 11% of professionals stating that this would be a deterrent for them when considering contract roles.

Just 20% of professionals stated that they would not at all be interested in switching to a contract role; a small number given that 48% of workers admitted that their biggest concern about switching to a contract position was the roles end date, followed by lack of employment rights (26%).

The new Contractor Recruitment Guide; from staffing firm Walters People; reveals professionals are increasingly considering whether a contract roles could be their next career move.

Janine Blacksley, Director of Walters People, comments:- "With the rise of fully remote working and 4 day week trails, it is no surprise to hear that professionals are re-thinking how they carry out their day job; and contracting can be a viable option. Once upon a time, permanent jobs provided the best level of job security; but with the economy as turbulent as it is, professionals are becoming more comfortable with jobs not being 'for life' and that is where the gig economy comes in."

Mindset over Experience... When asked what they considered the core attributes are for a successful contractor, over a t3rd of permanent employees (36%) stated that being 'hard working / goals driven' was the primary trait, followed by an individual needing to have 'a lot of contacts and connects' (29%).

Surprisingly, just 21% believed that skills or experience is the primary characteristic of a successful contractor, followed by the ability to work autonomously (14%).

In fact, 40% of employers have stated that the primary reason they have hired contractors is down to the speed of hire, with just 27% stating that it was so that they could hire a specialist skillset.

Janine adds:- "There has been a misconception that contracting belongs only to highly experienced workers or those with a specialist skillset, but the very nature of contracting is professionals who are able to come into a role quickly, hit the ground running, and help to complete a project or fill a temporary hole within a business, and that can be any individual at any seniority level."

Job hoppers... Considering young professionals are increasingly adopting tactics like:- 'job hopping' as a way of career fast-tracking, Walters People identifies this cohort as ideally suited for contract positions.

Junior professionals (with up to a years' experience in a professional services field) have a median tenure of just 3 months; with this increasing to 6 months for those with up to 3 years' experience.

The key to work life balance... 46% of contract professionals noted the promise of a good work life balance as a top feature that attracts them to a new role. Currently in the UK, almost 3 quarters (74%) of contractors are working remotely.

In fact, just a minority of permanent employees (15%) are concerned about the responsibility they will need to take over their workload if they were to contract; with many feeling like this wont impact their work life balance.

Janine Blacksley, Director of Walters People comments:- "We are all too aware of how much young professionals value attaining a work life balance, as well as their habit of getting itchy feet and being quick to consider their next career step. Both of these aspects are foundational to contractor roles; as is, the ability to earn more than their permanent counterparts. Added to that, young workers have been described as the most entrepreneurial; they place real value on being able to let their work to do the talking rather than the hours served. Contract roles provide young professionals with the perfect springboard to be the best in their field. They are also great resume builders and provide opportunity to build p experience as well as hone a host of new skills."

Better pay than permanent... Robert Walters' 2023 Salary Survey calculates that a data analyst working in a large company can earn up to £80k*; however, working as a contractor on a full time basis for a year they can see annual earnings of just over £112k*; over £30k* more.

Typically the value of a permanent job can come in the soft benefits and perks. However, considering the average UK company's spend on benefits and perks packages is £1,200k per employee, per year; this pales in comparison to the higher pay you can receive for the same job as a contractor.

Janine comments:- "These qualities go hand in hand with young professional's way of working; they place real value on being able to let their work to do the talking rather than the hours served, they want their new perspectives heard by employers and independence and flexibility in position rather than being a cog in a large company. Contract roles provide young professionals with the perfect springboard to be the best in their field. They are also great resume builders and provide opportunity to build up experience working with top brands and employers as well as hone a host of new skills."

Top 5 sectors for hiring contractors in 2023:-

• Information Technology (IT) and Digital.
   

• Healthcare and Life Sciences.
   

• Engineering and Construction.
   

• Finance and Accounting.
   

• Creative Industries.

For more information on what a contractor role can offer you, access Walters People new Contractor Recruitment Guide.

* Both salary projections are before tax....

New survey of public health shows strong link between poor health and loneliness

AROUND 1.2 million deaths have been avoided in the UK since the mid 1980s due to advances in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, according to new data from Cancer Research UK. Over the last 4 decades, UK cancer mortality rates have fallen by around a quarter after peaking in 1985 for men and 1989 for women. Had rates stayed the same, it is estimated that around 134,000 more lives would have been lost in the North West. The figures have been released to coincide with the launch of the charity’s new campaign:- 'Together We Are Beating Cancer.' It aims to shine a light on the incalculable impact of such progress on people affected by the disease and their families. The awareness and fundraising drive, that includes:- billboards and posters displayed across the North West, showcases the real and heartwarming moments such as big birthdays, anniversary celebrations, or simply quality time with loved ones, that research is making possible right now.

Cancer Research UK scientists are behind some of the biggest breakthroughs that have helped lead to falling mortality rates; from helping to prove the link between smoking and cancer and playing a role in around half of the world’s essential cancer drugs, to the development of radiotherapy and discovering cancer causing genes.

The charity’s spokesperson for the North West, Jemma Humphreys, said:- "The fact that so many lives have been saved in the region over the last 40 years is testament to the power of research and, as a result, a huge number of people have been able to reach milestones in their life they didn’t think they’d see. Thanks to the generosity and commitment of our supporters, we’ve played a key role in this progress. Together, we are beating cancer; our research breakthroughs mean every day, people are being diagnosed earlier, have access to kinder and more effective treatments, and some cancers are prevented completely. As our new campaign shows, this all adds up to more moments with the people we love; moments that we need help to protect so that future generations can live, longer better lives, free from the fear of cancer. That’s why we’re calling on people in the North West to help us go further and faster in the fight against the disease."

Cancer Research UK’s analysis is accompanied by the findings of a new YouGov survey it commissioned of over 2,000 UK cancer survivors, looking at the moments and milestones that matter to them. It found some 41% said that experiencing a particular milestone, life event or personal interaction became more important for them following their diagnosis.

And while 81% of the cancer survivors who responded had positive emotions about their life in the future, such as feeling hopeful or happy, for some of these their overall emotions were mixed.

Despite large strides forward, and a more positive outlook for many, cancer remains the number 1 cause of death in the UK. And not all cancer types have seen improvements. For several forms of the disease, such as liver, head and neck, and womb cancer, there have been increases in mortality rates in recent years.

Jemma added:- "Around 41,900 people are diagnosed with cancer every year in the North West; but sadly, not everyone diagnosed with the disease will reach key milestones in their life. By donating, fundraising, taking part in one of our Shine Night Walks, or volunteering at our shops, supporters across the region could fund new discoveries that will help more people reach the life-changing moment when their doctor says:- 'It’s gone.'"

As part of the campaign, people are also being invited to share their personal moments, either of their own cancer journey or that of a loved 1, through a dedicated photo-wall and on social media by using:- #MoreMoments.

In this game changing era for cancer research, it’s estimated that around 134,000 lives have been saved in the North West since the mid 1980s. Cancer types where there have been large improvements during this time, include:-
 

Cancer	Estimated lives saved in the North West	Key reason
Lung	Around 64,100	Fewer people are smoking, after research part-funded by Cancer Research UK first proved that tobacco causes cancer in the 1950s.  Overall, the fall in cancer death rates has been steeper in men than women, mainly due to smoking rates starting to fall earlier in men. This means the UK is yet to see the full improvements in cancer death rates in women.
Stomach	Around 26,600	Cases and deaths have fallen substantially in recent decades because H Pylori, a type of infection, is no longer common.
Bowel	Around 25,000	Huge progress in treatments for the disease, including the Cancer Research UK-funded FOxTROT trial, which discovered that giving patients chemotherapy before surgery helped to shrink tumours, making them easier to remove.
Breast	Around 18,900	The introduction of the national screening programme in 1988, as well as drug developments like tamoxifen and Herceptin which Cancer Research UK helped to develop that have saved lives.  3 out of 4 people who receive cancer drugs on the NHS are receiving treatments which have links to the charity.

The charity is urging people to get behind the:- ‘Together We Are Beating Cancer’ campaign and help fund more life-saving research by:-

• Donating or fundraising. Donate now at:- CRUK.Org/Donate.
   

• Joining a Shine Night Walk including the Liverpool event on:-8 September, and the Manchester event on:- 13 October 2023.
   

• Volunteering at a Cancer Research UK shop.