Regional disparities show in way job markets are bouncing back

REGIONAL DISPARITIES in the nation’s economic recovery are beginning to show in the way that jobs markets are bouncing back, researchers have found.

Vacancies nationwide reached their highest level this month since March with 1.36m active job adverts, analysis by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation ( REC) sets out.

While the recovery is being led by north- west England and Wales, the country’s capital London lags in last place. Yorkshire is 10th out of 12 regions, with a fall of 6.8 per cent.

Roles in construction, logistics and food and drink have recovered strongly, while hospitality and leisure remain at significantly lower levels than in March.

Serious planning must be done to avoid a “skills mismatch”, REC chief executive Neil Carberry has warned, as jobs creation differs greatly between industries.

“What we need to do now is support businesses who can to create jobs, and help people who have lost work to transition into those new roles,” he said.

“Government can also help by reducing barriers to creating jobs through tax policy and regulatory change – like keeping the online right- to- work checking we have moved to in the pandemic.

“Broadening the apprenticeship levy would also allow workers to train and fill skill gaps in the longer- term. Some hardpressed sectors with high demand – like food manufacturing – also need the new immigration system to reflect the severe shortages they are facing.”

Job adverts for nurses rose 39 per cent between March and November, while truck drivers and carpenters are also in demand.

Roles in hospitality and leisure fared the worst, with adverts for bar staff halving and fitness instructors falling 37 per cent.

Matthew Mee, director of workforce intelligence at Emsi, said: “With discussion this week around a potential Covid vaccine coming closer to fruition, and the rise in confidence this brings, it will be interesting to see how this impact hiring activity in coming weeks.”