The future of recruitment over the next 10 years is the focus of a study underway by leading UK think tank Demos.

Preliminary findings suggest that technology, immigration patterns, demographic trends and the changing needs of employers and employees alike will be among the key drivers shaping recruitment strategy. The final report is set for release in April and could include recommendations to government on policy issues relating to recruitment.

The research is sponsored by the REC and The Guardian.

"We're looking at a long-term and broad perspective," Demos researcher Duncan O'Leary told Recruiter. O'Leary's research has involved interviews with more than 50 people representing the range of industry stakeholders such as traditional and online recruiters, government agencies such as the Equal Opportunities Commission, and business organisations such as the CBI.

O'Leary said that "a number of important shifts" are likely to occur over the next decade, such as the roles of different players in the market, evolving business practices and the tools available to bring the changes. "Technology will be a huge driver of change," he said.

The REC expects the final report to fill a number of knowledge gaps for the organisation and its members. Roger Tweedy, the REC's director of research, said: "It will paint vivid scenarios about recruitment in 10 years' time and should help recruiters understand how they must plan for the future. It will also give people something interesting to talk about with their clients."

Tweedy will unveil some of the findings at the Recruiter Annual Forum 2007 in London on 24 April. The full report will be available to the public later that month.

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