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Press releases
The number of active job adverts across the UK has remained relatively stable since mid-August. In the week of 17-23 October, there were 1.4 million active job adverts, according to the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC)’s and Lightcast latest Labour Market Tracker.
There has been a fall in the number of new postings in the week of 17-23 October, with 154,000 new job adverts posted – 3.4% lower than a month earlier. The previous week saw strong demand with 217,000 new postings, suggesting that demand, while volatile, remains at a high level overall.
Neil Carberry, Chief Executive of the REC, said:
“After a lull over the summer and during the period of national mourning for Her Majesty the Queen we saw a recovery in hiring in late September. This continued through most of October, with some slowing in the most recent week. Overall, we are still seeing strong demand.
“There are some signs of greater volatility driven by economic and political uncertainty. But these cyclical trends are being offset by a substantial labour shortage that means firms still need to hire, even when growth has slowed.
“On November 17th, the Chancellor has a chance to set out plans for growth which underpin investment by businesses in improving productivity, from skills to employment support to technology. This should include reforming the failed apprenticeship levy to deliver skills where they are needed, better thinking on transport and childcare to support people returning to work, and an immigration system that flexes to meet our economy’s needs.”
Occupations with notable increases in job adverts include childminders (+3.3%), school secretaries (+1.9%), and dental practitioners (+1.3%).
On the other hand, pharmacy assistants (-17%) saw the biggest weekly decline in active job adverts. Bar staff (-16.4%) and waiters and waitresses (-12.8%) also saw a significant decline in active postings.
North West saw growth in job postings in the week of 17-23 October, with three of the only four hiring hotspots with positive growth – Blackpool (+9.3%), Lancaster and Wyre (+2.1%), and East Cumbria (+0.2%).
At the other end of the scale, seven out of the bottom ten local areas for growth in active job postings were in Northern Ireland. Of those, Causeway Coast and Glens (-26.1%), Newry, Mourne and Down (-19.2%), Derry City and Strabane (-19.2%), and Mid and East Antrim (-19%) saw the biggest falls.
John Gray, Vice President, UK Operations at Lightcast, said:
“The number of new job postings in the week beginning 17th October was 70,000 fewer than the previous week, which may well be a reflection of the general volatility and uncertainty we are seeing in Westminster and in the economy. At the same time, when we look at the total number of active job postings, the picture is much more stable, with the numbers having remained at around 1.5 million since the middle of August.
“Putting these two datapoints together suggests that while employers may well be nervous about committing to new hires right now, they still have existing positions which they have not been able to fill, and which they are continuing to advertise for. This, combined with the lowest unemployment rate over the past 20 years suggests that, even in this time of volatility and instability, we are still seeing a very tight labour market.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
Media enquiries
For more information and interview enquiries, contact the REC Press Office on 020 7009 2157 or pressoffice@rec.uk.com. Outside of regular office hours, please call 07702 568 829.
Click here to view all REC press releases.
About the REC
The REC is the voice of the recruitment industry, speaking up for great recruiters. We drive standards and empower recruitment businesses to build better futures for great candidates and themselves. We are champions of an industry which is fundamental to the strength of the UK economy.
Find out more about the Recruitment & Employment Confederation at www.rec.uk.com.
About Lightcast
Lightcast (formerly Emsi Burning Glass) provides trusted global labour market data, analytics, and expert guidance that empowers communities, corporations, and learning providers to make informed decisions and navigate the increasingly complex world of work. With a database of more than one billion job postings and career profiles, our team provides best-in-class customer service with robust data, clear analysis, and expert guidance on skills, jobs, and opportunities.
Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, and Moscow, Idaho, Lightcast is active in more than 30 countries and has offices in the United Kingdom, Italy, New Zealand, and India. The company is backed by global private equity leader KKR. For more, visit www.lightcast.io/uk.
ANNEXES
Top ten and bottom ten county/unitary authorities for growth in job postings:
County/unitary authority |
Unique active job postings, 17-23 October |
Change in active job postings, 10-16 October to 17-23 October |
Blackpool |
2,219 |
9.3% |
Lancaster and Wyre |
2,199 |
2.1% |
Breckland and South Norfolk |
1,877 |
2.0% |
East Cumbria |
2,862 |
0.2% |
West Sussex (North East) |
8,873 |
-0.5% |
Suffolk |
9,604 |
-0.6% |
East Surrey |
8,682 |
-0.6% |
Darlington |
1,804 |
-0.7% |
Kingston upon Hull, City of |
3,776 |
-1.0% |
Somerset |
8,848 |
-1.1% |
- |
|
|
Conwy and Denbighshire |
2,782 |
-13.3% |
South Ayrshire |
1,319 |
-13.8% |
South West Wales |
4,038 |
-15.0% |
Mid Ulster |
1,253 |
-16.9% |
Fermanagh and Omagh |
585 |
-17.6% |
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon |
1,984 |
-18.7% |
Mid and East Antrim |
1,094 |
-19.0% |
Derry City and Strabane |
1,125 |
-19.2% |
Newry, Mourne and Down |
1,396 |
-19.2% |
Causeway Coast and Glens |
452 |
-26.1% |
Top ten and bottom ten occupations by growth in job postings:
Occupation |
Unique active job postings, 17-23 October |
Change in active job postings, 10-16 October to 17-23 October |
Floorers and Wall Tilers |
489 |
13.7% |
Childminders and Related Occupations |
3,050 |
3.3% |
Leisure and Theme Park Attendants |
592 |
2.4% |
School Secretaries |
420 |
1.9% |
Dental Practitioners |
1,307 |
1.6% |
Merchandisers and Window Dressers |
3,612 |
1.0% |
Musicians |
318 |
0.6% |
Authors, Writers and Translators |
3,762 |
0.6% |
Actuaries, Economists and Statisticians |
2,890 |
0.3% |
Conference and Exhibition Managers and Organisers |
4,389 |
0.3% |
- |
|
|
Podiatrists |
388 |
-12.2% |
Mobile Machine Drivers and Operatives |
813 |
-12.6% |
Vehicle Valeters and Cleaners |
577 |
-12.7% |
Waiters and Waitresses |
7,165 |
-12.8% |
Undertakers, Mortuary and Crematorium Assistants |
334 |
-13.0% |
Food, Drink and Tobacco Process Operatives |
512 |
-14.2% |
Probation Officers |
620 |
-14.5% |
Bar Staff |
4,293 |
-16.4% |
Plasterers |
466 |
-16.6% |
Pharmacy and Other Dispensing Assistants |
494 |
-17.0% |
Key indicator occupations
Occupation |
Unique active job postings, 17-23 October |
Change in active job postings, 10-16 October to 17-23 October |
Primary and Nursery Education Teaching Professionals |
14,033 |
-0.9% |
Chartered and Certified Accountants |
29,455 |
-1.8% |
Programmers and Software Development Professionals |
76,801 |
-2.0% |
Chefs |
21,907 |
-2.2% |
Hairdressers and Barbers |
1,556 |
-3.5% |
Marketing Associate Professionals |
20,220 |
-4.0% |
Nurses |
53,493 |
-4.4% |
Fitness Instructors |
2,849 |
-5.3% |
Mechanical Engineers |
11,804 |
-6.4% |
Sales and Retail Assistants |
19,623 |
-6.4% |
Care Workers and Home Carers |
55,489 |
-7.0% |
Metal Working Production and Maintenance Fitters |
5,265 |
-7.7% |
Large Goods Vehicle Drivers |
13,270 |
-8.1% |
Cleaners and Domestics |
17,555 |
-10.4% |
Carpenters and Joiners |
4,016 |
-11.0% |
Waiters and Waitresses |
7,165 |
-12.8% |
Bar Staff |
4,293 |
-16.4% |
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