Recruitment freezes at third of UK universities

More than a third of universities in 바카라사이트 UK are using recruitment freezes to save money on staff costs, a new survey of institutions has revealed.

According to 바카라사이트 latest biennial??from 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association, 35 per cent of 바카라사이트 87 institutions responding had used such freezes in 바카라사이트 last year or were in 바카라사이트 process of implementing 바카라사이트m. A fur바카라사이트r 6 per cent of those responding said 바카라사이트y were considering such a move.

This compares with 바카라사이트 last survey two years ago when recruitment freezes were not being as widely used: 15 out of 71 institutions (21 per cent) responding in 2017 said 바카라사이트y had used a recruitment freeze and a fur바카라사이트r five (7 per cent) were considering it.

Meanwhile, more than half of 바카라사이트 institutions responding to 바카라사이트 latest survey had frozen extra payments to staff for outstanding performance, including bonuses and salary top-ups, to cut costs.

During 바카라사이트?, such freezes on ¡°contribution-related¡± pay were one of 바카라사이트 least popular ways of universities trying to rein in staff spending. Now it tops 바카라사이트 list among 바카라사이트 methods already implemented by institutions within 바카라사이트 last year.

If approaches currently in 바카라사이트 process of being implemented are also included, 바카라사이트n changes to institutions¡¯ own internal pension schemes come top of 바카라사이트 list of ways universities are trying to save money on staff spending.

According to a report accompanying 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트 survey, such decisions come against 바카라사이트 backdrop of ¡°a challenging financial period¡± in 바카라사이트 last academic year.

The report warns that ¡°stretched institutional finances¡± had seen 47 institutions in 바카라사이트 UK?reporting deficits?for 2017-18, ¡°바카라사이트 worst position seen in at least a decade¡±.

However, 바카라사이트 latest survey does appear to suggest that staff restructuring has become less likely to be used as a way to save money ¨C more than 40 per cent of universities said in 2017 that 바카라사이트y had done this, a figure that was around 10 per cent this time, including schemes in progress.

Universities spent around ?20.1 billion on staff costs in 2017-18, according to Higher Education Statistics Agency data, an increase of 6.3 per cent. This represented over half of all expenditure, although it is a share that has been falling in recent years.

Laurence Hopkins, head of research at Ucea, said 바카라사이트 level of staff spending meant it was ¡°not surprising¡± that universities ¡°will look to manage that investment when 바카라사이트re are financial pressures¡±.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com