07/11/2002

Labour Turnover survey shows marked slowdown

The latest Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's (CIPD) Labour Turnover survey has shown a marked decrease in labour turnover in 2001.

The survey found an overall labour turnover rate of 18.2%, which is a return to the pattern shown since the survey began in 1995. The rate was almost exactly the same as 1999, but well down on the 26.6% recorded in 2000.

The 2002 Labour Turnover survey, which showed a noticeable increase in 2001, was out of step with recent trends, and came against a backdrop of a sharp slowdown in manufacturing and technology, a continued boom in the service sector and steadily falling unemployment.

CIPD Chief Economist, John Philpott says: "This combination had a perverse impact on labour turnover by simultaneously boosting the level of redundancies and the number of people quitting their jobs to seek alternatives.

The latest survey, which covers the year 2001, showed that while the redundancy rate continued to rise during the year, the quit rate fell sharply, as the pace of total employment growth slowed in line with lower private-sector recruitment activity, dragging down the overall turnover rate.

Sales staff had the highest turnover rate, at 23.9%, which was significantly higher than that for managers, at 12.0%. Craft and skilled manual employees had the lowest turnover rate at 9.6%.

Mr Philpott said: "Sales staff were the only occupational group to buck the overall trend and show an increase in turnover last year. In the retail sector this might be to do with a continued strong performance, and employers competing for staff to meet buoyant consumer demand."

While almost half of the organisations surveyed (47%) had made redundancies in 2001, this figure remains unchanged from the previous year.

The most commonly cited reason was "reorganisation" which was reported by 53% of organisations making staff redundant.

(SP)

Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

14 September 2017
Latest Labour Force Survey Shows Fall In Employment Rate
The latest figures from the Labour Force Survey have revealed that the employment rate fell by 1.3% over the year to August 2017. The Survey, from Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency, also revealed that the economic inactivity rate (27.8%) increased by 1.5% over the year.
14 August 2001
Inflation rate fall may herald a further interest rate cut
Speculation is growing that a fall in the underlying inflation rate, down to 2.2 per cent, may give the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee further room for manoeuvre to lower interest rates. Continued severe pressure on manufacturing industry has prompted further calls from industry leaders seeking another cut in the UK interest rate.
29 November 2004
Survey reveals falling business crime rate
According to the latest figures in the first national Government business crime survey conducted since 1994, overall crime is down 30% since 1997. Crime against retailers is seven percentage points lower than almost ten years ago and crime against manufacturers 12 percentage points lower.
19 May 2005
BT quarterly profits soar on 'new wave'
BT Group plc have reported a massive increase in its fourth quarter figures as the company spent less on jobs cuts and demonstrated increased sales performance. The UK's largest telecommunications company recorded a 2% improvement in turnover, which reached almost £4.
11 November 2004
New wave turnover sustains BT profits
A new wave of hi-tech turnover including broadband connections has helped BT to hold the line on profits. In its quarterly report published today, BT Group reported that turnover for the year was up 1%, at £9.2 billion. Most growth was in what BT described as "new wave" turnover that increased by 34% in the year to reach £1,969 million.