Brexit and Covid hit finance job vacancies

VACANCIES tumbled by nearly 30 per cent in Scotland’s key financial services sector last year, as Brexit, Covid and the climate emergency constrained activity.

And there was a 10% fall in new candidates, signalling reduced movement in the market.

The findings are disclosed in the latest Industry Trends and Salary Guide from Coreasset Consulting, the Edinburgh-based financial services recruitment specialist.

The report, published today, also points to a “knife-edge” in gender diversity, amid evidence that lockdowns have heaped pressure on women in senior roles.

Betsy Williamson, founder and managing director of Core-asset, said: “The last 12 months have changed the face of the sector forever. We’ve seen social and economic changes take place at a velocity unlike anything previously experienced.

“Many of these changes are universal across professional services. For instance, we’re on a knife-edge when it comes to gender diversity and equality of opportunities. Women in senior roles could be hit hardest, as they’ve worked so hard to get to those roles, but many are now carrying lots of extra responsibilities.

“This is a warning – companies could find themselves on the brink of inadvertently pushing out waves of women if they don’t acknowledge cultural barriers online and accommodate the challenges faced by working parents, especially for those with relatively young children.

“On the flip side there is a glimmer of hope in that we’ve had to confront head on prejudices against home or flexible working.”