SOME businesses are still set to grow and recruit and there is hope of turning around the economy in the second half of the year, it has been predicted.

Bloomberg’s senior UK economist Dan Hanson recently suggested the tide could turn later this year if the coronavirus outbreak is contained by the summer.

His views were highlighted by Poole-based recruitment consultancy TeamJobs, which says there are still growth sectors in need of recruitment support. It is currently filling vacancies in sectors including tech, healthcare, oil and gas, telecoms, IT, cybersecurity, retail, pharmaceuticals and online businesses.

It introduced video technology and remote recruiting months before the pandemic made it necessary.

Its managing director, Jason Gault, said: “Businesses need efficiencies when operating. Those recruiters who will flourish, and we hope there will be many, will be those who have the procedures, systems and resources at hand.

“Now is the time to support each other, but to do this there has to be trust. Trust in track record, trust in delivery, trust in the whole company infrastructure that is set up for clients.”

He said the economy could not just come to a halt.

“It requires the flow of people. To do this, businesses need dedicated support where the best candidates contribute to the development and growth of the companies they work for,” he said.

“To have that streamlined involvement that can speed up processes, maintain a distance but encourage connection can become a catalyst for change.”

He pointed to the views of Hege Sæbjørnsen, sustainability manager at IKEA UK & Ireland, who said recently: “As the world adapts to new ways of living and working, it only highlights the huge importance of people and businesses adopting new ways of living, working and behaving.”