Increase in job vacancies as lockdown eases

Job vacancies have increased at the quickest rate for 23 years as the country continues to emerge from the lockdown, a new study suggests.

Despite the increase in jobs on offer, the availability of candidates fell in April amid ongoing pandemic-related uncertainty which is holding people back from seeking new roles, said a report by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and KPMG.

The report says skill shortages and improved demand for staff led to increases in starting pay for permanent and temporary staff.

Claire Warnes, of KPMG, said: "There's a lot to feel positive about this month, with the easing of lockdown improving business confidence in the economy and in turn driving a sharp rise in recruitment.

"However, it's concerning that we're seeing a drop in candidate supply due in part to applicants needing support to adapt their skills to move from displaced sectors to those where there is more demand, such as health and care, and because the furlough scheme has reduced the pool of workers."

Neil Carberry, chief executive of the REC, said: "The jobs market is improving at one of the fastest rates we have ever seen. Many people are still struggling but the data shows that job creation is firing up again.

"This month's numbers for permanent hiring are the best we've seen since the survey started in 1997.

"Temporary hiring has chalked up its ninth straight month of growth, demonstrating again how important temporary agency work is to getting families and businesses back on their feet."