Online talent sourcing specialist, Talent.com has warned UK employers that a lack of diversity in recruitment adverts could hinder hiring strategies as vacancy numbers grow nationwide.

Why firms need to produce more diverse recruitment ads

According to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there are more job vacancies now than before the pandemic as employers look to expand their hiring as restrictions ease and business demand increases.

However, Talent.com has warned that without “an audit of the hiring process including job adverts and descriptions to ensure they appeal to modern-day diverse audiences,” businesses could see “limited hiring success in the second half of 2021.”

With unemployment levels receding, job-seekers have a buoyant jobs market, and the best talent has their pick of roles, so it’s up to businesses to ensure their recruitment adverts appeal to a wide talent pool.

Noura Dadzie – VP Sales UK & International Markets at Talent.com, commented: “With unemployment levels dropping as vacancy numbers rise, the war for talent is accelerating exponentially. The challenge for hiring managers now is not just to get in front of the right people before the competition, but perhaps more importantly, have the right content to push to these audiences. Job seekers are placing greater emphasis on diversity initiatives and employment culture in a post-pandemic world. Still, as businesses attempt to replace lost resources, too many are falling into the trap of pushing out pre-pandemic ads and job descriptions that are arguably outdated and irrelevant.

“Job seekers are more likely to apply for a position if they can easily identify with the job description and advert. If these do not reflect the diversity of the new talent landscape, employers will be on the back foot – a less-than-ideal scenario in a growing economy.”