ClickAJob News

Many employers are trying to survive the recession by bringing in younger workers on lower wages, new research has revealed.

A survey, conducted for the Recruitment and Employment Federation by Markit Economics and KPMG, discovered that in February, 28 per cent of employers admitted to filling vacancies with staff on lower wages than their predecessors.

In comparison, this figure stood at 7.7 per cent in September 2008.

The survey noted that "respondents widely commented that high levels of candidate availability had shifted negotiating power to employers and consequently salary offers were lower".

Furthermore, the research discovered that rates of pay for temporary or contract workers had fallen for the fifth month in a row.

Giving experienced workers the shove to save costs is a bit like playing Russian roulette, according to a ClickAJob spokesperson.

"It puts young people on the spot to perform before finding their feet," he says.

"With often unrealistic expectations, any hoped-for cost savings are quickly negated by mistakes or missed opportunities through lack of inexperience or familiarity with customers."

"Under pressure like that, it's no wonder that so many younger workers change jobs every few years," he continues.

"On top of which, the employer has to start all over again with the cost of hiring and training a new person - and facing the wait while they come up to speed."

"Easier and simpler to leave experienced staff where they are and find other ways of being more efficient," he concludes.

According to Personnel Today, the Employers Forum on Age believes that many people are still subject to ageism at work, despite laws being introduced to tackle the issue.