The prophets of doom have been enjoying something of a high season in the aftermath of the government’s deficit reduction plans; whilst economic forecasts need to take reasonably accurate perspectives on future trends, there’s always room for interpretation. And a danger attached to the more dire interpretations is that they run the risk of becoming self-fulfilling. For freelancers in the UK’s contracting community, times are precarious enough without unduly pessimistic predictions jeopardising the market in contract jobs any further.
Happily, not all forecasts are of the doom and gloom variety. The Confederation of British Industry, for example, has just published a study which reveals that a healthy majority of businesses – 68 per cent – are planning to expand over the next twelve months. In particular, the report notes that the present recruitment freeze in London is expected to “thaw” during 2011.
Commenting on the study, the CBI’s Regional Director for London, Sara Parker, expressed her happiness with the improving employment climate in London. The evidence in the report suggest that companies in the Capital are beginning to end recruitment freezes and start hiring normally again, a development which Ms Parker hailed as good news for London.
She did, however, sound a cautionary note. Optimistic forecasts cannot simply be oblivious to objective economic conditions, which continue to be uncertain. Whilst London businesses are planning to expand in 2011, the knock-on effects of the public sector cuts mean that future planning remains difficult, Ms Parker added. Even so, a majority of London businesses do appear to anticipate some healthy growth in the New Year.
