A survey (click here) of over 550 scientific organisations shows a UK wide positive outlook for 2010 recruitment. Although the UK science labour market had a tough 2009, shedding both permanent and contract staff, the food sector has been resilient to the consumer downturn and saw an increase in the requirement for skilled scientists. The majority of respondents in this sector found it no harder in 2009 than 2008 to recruit staff, in fact compared to the scientific sector as a whole, Food companies found it much easier to recruit.

However, from the sectors who took part in the survey, Food firms were using the least staff compared to the previous year but they are now near the top in terms of hiring permanent staff. This trend is the opposite though when it comes to contract staff, with companies in this sector using less than last year - a trend that has continued from 2008.

Bruce Swan, food industry specialist for SRG, says: “The outlook for 2010 is looking positive with the food sector predicting growth in permanent staff hire during 2010, which follows the general trend throughout the science community.”

Now in its fourth year the 2009-2010 survey was completed by 554 UK employers of scientists, including food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, oil, petrochemical, biotechnology and healthcare companies, research institutes and government departments. All were involved in recruitment and were mostly working in an HR or senior technical/scientific role. The results show both regional and sector specific trends.