“The extension of the furlough scheme will be a welcome relief to many people and businesses across the country. The measures allow employers some breathing space to plan their business and workforce strategy, and future hiring and skills needs through the festive period and into next year. However, economic conditions remain challenging, and the jobs market is turbulent as we’ve seen this week with a new wave of redundancies announced. Job seekers are facing stiff competition for roles, with LinkedIn data showing applications per job are up 64% compared to this time last year. It’s important for HR professionals and recruiters to consider applicants’ transferable skills, not just their recent experience. Doing so can help companies access more diverse talent pools, and benefit from new skills and fresh perspective.”