BUSINESS NEWS UK-Number of job vacancies rises 20% in a week, sales and education vacancies see a spike
Posted 8th July 2020 • Written by staffingindustry.com • • • • •
The number of jobs posted across the UK increased 20% in the week ending 5 July compared to the previous week, this is the first positive increase in weeks according to the latest real-time statistics from Broadbean Technology, the network of job boards.
The beginning of July saw the number of sales and trading roles advertised rise 26% week-on-week as more brands began to open their doors to customers and organisations continued to get back to work.
Week-to-week comparisons flatter job vacancy growth given the substantial declines experienced compared to the prior year period.
Broadbean Technology’s data further revealed that the average number of people applying for sales roles has doubled so far this year, with around 65.5 candidates applying for each position. This is indicative of the number of people out of work in the sales arena since the pandemic forced many businesses to close.
The data also showed that education and training saw a 26% increase in the number of vacancies added in the week ending 5 July as schools continue to struggle sourcing enough teachers ahead of the mandatory re-opening of all education institutions in September.
While all contract types saw an increase in hiring, permanent vacancies are up for the first time in three weeks.
Alex Fourlis, Managing Director at Broadbean Technology, said, “It’s incredibly encouraging to once again see vacancies growing across the board. The uptick in permanent jobs in particular indicates a level of positivity in the UK economy that is welcome news for businesses and individuals alike. With more companies able to once again reopen, and shops and schools welcoming customers and pupils back, we certainly expected to see some demand for new staff.”
“However, while this is good news, employers in these specialisms face different challenges,” Fourlis continued. “For education institutes, the on-going shortage of teachers is still hampering hiring, with the number of jobs being advertised remaining relatively high throughout the crisis. Before lockdown began, headteachers were reporting that they were struggling to find enough staff to keep schools open, and this increase in vacancies suggests the problem is prevailing as they gear up to welcome all pupils back in September.”
“Those employers seeking sales and trading staff might welcome the news that more people are applying for jobs, but this poses an additional problem of finding the right individual for the role,” Fourlis said. “With an abundance of candidates putting themselves forward, the challenge for employers now lies in ensuring they find the person with not just the right skills, but also the right fit with the company so they don’t make the costly mistake of hiring the wrong person in the long run.”