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UK - Twice as many jobs as jobseekers

01 December 2015

There were twice as many job vacancies than jobseekers in October according to Adzuna’s latest report. The ratio of jobseekers to available jobs decreased by 42% to 0.54, compared to 0.95 this time last year.

The report showed that the seasonal jobs boom made 1,229, 131 positions available in October, an increase of 4.3% from September. This is compared with 664, 130 jobseekers, meaning there are double the amount of jobs as there are to jobseekers. This makes it the fastest monthly rise since June 2013. Meanwhile, ONS statistics show that unemployment has decreased to 5.3%, the lowest since 2008.

As Christmas approaches, advertised job vacancies are projected to rise with the number of jobs increasing 4.3% month-on-month from 1,178,129 in September.  Job vacancies increased 31.2%, year-on-year, fuelled by a worsening long-term skills shortage which means more vacancies are remaining unfilled.

The study also showed that advertised salaries fall in all regions for the third month in a rowto an average £33,043, down 4.7% from £34,670 a year ago – partly due to temporary roles.

“Twice as many jobs should mean twice as many choices for jobseekers – but this is only true for those with the right skill,” Doug Monro, co-founder of Adzuna, said. “Rising vacancies are signalling a spiralling skills gap, which appears to be worsening as many positions are left empty. As the festive season approaches, employers and companies are yet again reliant on the delicate yet crucial role internally migrating workers and workers from overseas have to play.”

All regions saw salaries falling across the board in October, but it was in the North had the hardest fall with Scotland seeing the average advertised salary drop 7.4% year-on-year to £30,581. In North East England advertised pay dropped 5.5% to £28,863 – seeing a greater decrease than the UK average. And other Northern areas fared little better, with the North West seeing a 3.8% dip to an average advertised salary of £29,725.

The South fared better with the South East region dropping 2.2% to £31,902.  In London, the average advertised salaries in the capital fell 7.1% across the previous year to £39,765 – the second greatest decline of any region.

 

 

Within the customer services sector, 44% more available positions are on offer than a year ago, and with advertised salaries increasing by 4% year-on-year.

“Many of the jobs currently being born are temporary positions, leaving workers without long-term job security and reliant on the seasonal economy,” Monro said. “However, these new jobs do bring a rare flexibility to workers, offering part-time and temporary options which can be a lifeline to those in need of income.”

 

The education sector has seen a jump in the number of advertised vacancies, to 65,547 in October, up 37.3% from 41,129 in October 2014. Advertised salaries meanwhile, have fallen within the sector to £26,166, down by 1.8% year-on-year and by 0.1% from £26,183 in September last month. With many teaching jobs left unfilled and advertised pay failing to attract applicants, concerns are being raised around the UK about shortages within the sector.

 

 “Just as fears of a NHS staffing crisis have subsided, talks of a teacher crisis have surfaced again this autumn,” Monro said.  “With vacancies hugely increasing, many are being left vacant and official targets missed. To attract more trainee teachers, its clear financial rewards at a qualified level are sufficient, but more support is needed during the different and difficult training stages.”

 

  September 2015 October 2015 Monthly Change Annual Change from October
UK Vacancies 1,178,129 1229,131 +4.3% +31.2%
Jobseekers per Vacancy 0.58 0.54 -6.9% -43.2%
Avg. Advertised Salary UK £33,121 33,043 -0.2% -4.7%