Recruiters have been urged to help the mobility of talent in the public sector through providing advice on candidate’s skills by Dean Shoesmith, president of the Public Sector People Manager’s Association (PPMA).

As reported on recruiter.co.uk yesterday, up to 490,000 public sector jobs could go by 2014-15 as a result of the cuts programme. However, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development predicts job losses could far exceed 500,000, reaching 750,000 by 2015-16.

Shoesmith told Recruiter: “Recruiters need to work with both private and public sector clients to showcase the skills candidates have and advise the sector on how they might enhance the skills of the workforce.

“It is not just about displaced employees. You may have transformation programmes with people moving within subsectors such as shared services. There is going to be all sorts of movement – not just public sector to private sector, but within the public sector itself and public sector to third sector.”

A spokesperson for Hays adds: “The key now is to ensure those who will be made redundant are properly supported so they have access to the right information and advice enabling them to find employment in the private sector.

“People will need help identifying their transferable skills, and understanding the different recruitment processes and employer needs that exist in the labour market right now. There are lots of similarities between the two sectors, but jobseekers need to help to convey this and to target themselves towards areas of growth and opportunity.”