Demand for HR professionals rose four percent year on year to March 2017 according to the latest data from The Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo). Comment from Ann Swain, Chief Executive – APSCo.

The number of vacancies for recruitment specialists within this group increased by 12 percent over the same period. The pivotal month for the period was March 2017, which saw a nine percent increase when compared to March 2016. The top sectors for HR openings over the past year were advertising and media, with vacancy growth of 34 percent and 33 percent respectively.

The data, which was based on analytics provided by Vacancysoft, found that Greater London, unsurprisingly, continues to be home to the lion’s share of HR vacancies, with almost half (43 percent) of the country’s roles based in this region. However, this represents a slight contraction of 1 percent year-on-year, while others areas such as the West Midlands and the South East have experienced an increase in demand (14 percent and 11 percent respectively).

Ann Swain, chief executive of APSCo, commented on the report saying; “The fact that demand for HR professionals has increased year-on-year is unsurprising when you consider the current level of wider geopolitical uncertainty. The ability for a business to thrive in a post-Brexit world relies on it being able to attract and retain vital skills. Potential legislative changes associated with the UK’s exit from the European Union, and indeed a new Government, mean that organisations are bringing on board expertise in this area to ensure they are prepared for, and resilient to, change.

“It is also no shock that demand for recruitment specialists is outstripping general HR vacancies. According to the latest APSCo Deloitte Recruitment Index, 61 percent of recruitment leaders say their greatest challenge is growing headcount. It is ironic that organisations are finding it increasingly challenging to recruit recruiters – and something which APSCo is working hard to rectify.”