Struggling to hire? You’re not alone.

Struggling to hire? You’re not alone.

The October edition of the Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Recruitment Outlook perfectly sums up what so many SMEs across North Wales and Chester are facing right now.

The data (from 4,600 UK businesses, 91% of them SMEs) says it all:

📊 54% tried to recruit in the last three months
⚠️ 75% struggled to find the right people
💸 Labour costs remain the biggest pressure for 72% of firms

Construction, professional services, transport and hospitality are feeling it most - but the hiring challenges cut across almost every sector.

Locally, I’m hearing the same frustrations:

- Roles taking longer (and costing more) to fill
- Fewer candidates with the right fit
- New starters leaving too soon

With rising costs and stretched resources, it’s easy to hit pause on hiring or training. But often, a smarter, people-first approach can make recruitment work better - without inflating budgets.

If your business is finding hiring harder than ever, now’s a good time to review your recruitment and onboarding strategy before year-end. Get in touch.