The studies keep rolling in. The Angela Mortimer Salary Survey 2007, The blue book, surveys 1,000 job seekers and over 700 businesses, revealing that 78% of companies struggled to attract the staff they wanted in 2006. Many experienced a longer and more expensive recruitment process compared to 2005.

The situation is even more pronounced in Europe, with 97% of companies in Brussels and 86% of companies in Paris complaining that the recruitment market was challenging in 2006.

Additional findings:
1. 31% of companies found an increasing number of applicants withdrawing from the recruitment process.
2. 26% experienced an increase in the number of jobs declined by candidates, particularly in Manchester (31%) and in Brussels (32%).
3. 43% of employers found that more candidates increased their financial demands at offer stage.

Pressure on the European hiring market is clearly increasing. Now is the time for European companies to revisit sourcing and hiring processes for automation opportunities.