163% increase in global right-to-work checks in the education sector, as talent shortages and regulations tighten their grip
The spike coincides with record numbers of teachers quitting in 2022-23
Global right-to-work checks have almost doubled
Global right-to-work checks in the UK’s education sector have more than doubled since 2021, as institutions have raced to plug talent gaps with international hires while avoiding the ire of regulators.
According to new research from background checking platform Zinc, these checks have increased 163% in the last three years alone, coinciding with rising fines for employing illegal migrants that will triple the penalty for breaches.
This comes after the Department for Education reported a record 40,000 teachers quitting last year, prompting institutions to look abroad for skilled educators despite the challenges posed by outsourcing talent. Filling these roles cannot be rushed however, as background checks in the sector already have a fail rate of over 15% according to additional Zinc research, suggesting that there are still high numbers of ineligible applicants that could put institutions at risk.
However, the extra scrutiny hiring teams need to apply puts them at risk of missing out on top talent to savvier competitors who are able to vet candidates more quickly. It’s a problem observed across industries as only 9% of businesses across sectors can complete checks in less than a week, with 79% of large employers that recruit over 501 people a year taking as long as a month.
Ensuring the hiring process progresses quickly is particularly key in the education sector, with attrition rates between accepting an offer and actually starting reaching as high as 10%. Organisations risk letting this figure creep higher if they lack the technical resources and skills to accelerate how quickly they can confidently make a hire.
At Supreme Education Recruitment we have a team of compliance specialists on hand to ensure that the vetting process is completed as quickly and smoothly as possible for schools and education candidates alike.
We are an award winning education agency based in West London with a history of providing excellent support to Early Career Teachers looking to start their teaching careers. Our highly experienced team understands the importance of starting your teaching career in a position that allows you to complete your ECT year within a supportive school environment in a convenient location.
Please get in touch with our specialist education team to discuss your next role or recruiting requirements
Contact details:
Tel: 02085772442
Email: recruitment@supremerecruitment.co.uk
Web: https://education.supremerecruitment.co.uk
Source: HR News