Job applications in Yorkshire cities have fallen, says data
THE NUMBER of job applications in three Yorkshire cities dropped last month, according to new data.
The study by the independent job board, CV- Library, found that the number of job applications dropped by 14.7 per cent in Sheffield, 9.8 per cent in Leeds and 5.5 per cent in Hull during August.
The job board analysed data from its site throughout August and compared the findings with data from August 2019 and July 2020.
A spokesman said: “Interestingly, it shows that job applications fell across the UK last month, with Sheffield, Leeds and Hull experiencing the second, fourth and ninth largest drop in applications respectively.”
The biggest drop in the UK was in Cardiff, where applications fell by 15.4 per cent.
The statement added: “Despite more people being out of work, the findings show that applications are also down significantly year- on- year. They dropped by 22.2 per cent in Hull and by 12.5
per cent in Leeds. That said, they did rise by 2.2 per cent in Sheffield.
“When looking at advertised jobs, the findings show that adverts dropped by 7.7 per cent in Hull and by 2.7 per cent in Sheffield last month; but rose by 5.1 per cent in Leeds. In addition to this, year- on- year data reveals even bigger drops in job adverts across all three cities; with figures falling by 45.8 per cent in Leeds, 37 per cent in Sheffield and by 28.8 per cent in Hull.” Lee Biggins, founder and CEO of CVLibrary, said: “It’s surprising that applications have dropped so significantly in these Yorkshire cities; especially given that the government’s Job Retention Scheme is coming to an end in a matter of weeks now.
“However, the fact there are less jobs being advertised may have contributed. It’s important to remember August is typically a slower month for recruitment, which could explain the subtle drop in job postings in Sheffield. If you are actively looking for work, or are concerned you may lose your job once the furlough scheme is over, it’s important to use this time to your advantage.”
The data also reveals salaries have dropped by 9.7 per cent in Sheffield, 4.6 per cent in Leeds and 4.2 per cent in Hull, when looking at month- on- month data.
Mr Biggins added “September tends to come with a ‘ back to school’ feeling, where many job seekers will refocus their efforts on finding a new role.”