Omicron threatens the recovery of the skills shortage, as vacancies soar to a record 1.4 million

Over the past two years, the UK has seen a skills crisis the likes of which has never been seen, and now vacancies have soared to 1.2 million between September and November – according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS); that is 419,000 more jobs left unfilled than pre-pandemic. What seemed like a steady road to recovery has now been derailed by the Omicron variant, with the skilled industry again under threat as part-time job roles become more preferable for Brits.

With research demonstrating that Omicron is far more transmittable than previous variants, working from home schemes are likely to become more prevalent is most sectors. In an industry that is crucial for business development and sustainability, it is clear that traditional methods of recruitment is not a viable option for the skilled industry. With an average of 63 days to fill a vacancy and a cost upward of £10,000, it is clear that what is already a struggling industry needs to find alternative methods of filling vacancies.

With this in mind, DCSL GuideSmiths (https://www.dcsl.com/) – a business that assists companies with digital transformation – are one of the leading businesses who implement “team augmentation” to market, filling vital vacancies in less than 3 weeks in some of the most sought-after and highly skilled sectors. Team augmentation ensures low costs while providing quality and maximum communication between employees and their clients. In addition, it provides greater flexibility for not only workers but also for clients.

The process includes 4 key stages:
Understanding project requirements, identifying deliverables, talent required, and timeline
DCSL matches requirements with a team of over 300 skilled software engineers
Onboarding integrates new resources into existing businesses, ensuring that it aligns to the values, processes and procedures of the company
Weekly catchups and monthly feedback assists in ensuring that DCSL GuideSmiths provide continual support towards project delivery

Nick Thompson, CEO of DCSL GuideSmiths, discusses team augmentation and why it could be key to solving the talent crisis:

“The shortage of software developers has come at a time when businesses need them most, with many relying on digital transformation and app development for their growth and survival. Now with the added challenge of the Omicron variant, thousands of businesses find themselves stuck in a dearth of the skilled individuals needed to grow and bounce back.”

“Team augmentation is the result of years of hard work to become both a market leader in software development and a destination company for talented developers. Through this combination we are able to offer access to essential talent when our clients need it. DCSL GuideSmiths specialises in sourcing software developers with a specific skillset on either a short-term or long-term basis with a perfect fit between project progress and cost-effectiveness.”