The Christmas period is already boosting the number of jobs listed with a 102% increase in transport and a 31% increase in manufacturing jobs in the last two months as a locked-down Christmas run up approaches, according to the latest Keep Britain Working Index. Link to download report at bottom of page.
- Christmas preparations already increasing jobs in transport and logistics (102% increase in the last two months and 21% up on 2019) manufacturing (31% increase in jobs in last two months, now 17% higher than January).
- Job listings continued to rise into October, which had been the final month of furlough (15% up month on month, however 32% down year on year).
- Applications per job fall slightly as the highly competitive market cooled a little (applications fell by 31 percentage points from September to October, but are up 37% year on year).
- Latest lockdown will pause the progress made in retail and customer service roles (12% and 19% increase).
- Graduate (68% down on January jobs posted) and apprentice roles (34% down on January jobs posted) still suffering as young hardest hit.
This increase in jobs in the run up to Christmas has boosted the monthly increase in roles, now at 70% of January levels and seen the average applications per role fall again by 31 percentage points from September to October.
However, the Keep Britain Working Index has also revealed that many sectors are still suffering. Unsurprisingly, leisure and tourism jobs plummeted by 38% and hospitality jobs fell by 9% in the last two months – the largest falls of all sectors.
As a result, leisure and tourism saw a significant leap in the number of applications per job with an 11% leap in the last two months, while hospitality saw a relatively modest 6% increase – perhaps due to re-deployment in other sectors.
The data also points towards little recovery for entry level jobs. Graduate roles posted in October remain at the same levels as September, and 68% lower than January. Apprenticeships tell a similar story now standing at 66% of January levels. Applications per graduate role have fallen by 23%, and applications per apprenticeship role by 24% in the last two months.
James Reed, Chairman of Reed and co-founder of Keep Britain Working, says:
“While October showed some progress, the new lockdown will mean that November is very difficult and its timing suggests that many businesses will now push hiring plans into the New Year.”
“If the objective is to save jobs, furlough being extended to March will help. December is a quiet time for many businesses and as a result a very hard time for people to find a new job. However, by January we could start to see a different picture. It is very different because this is when the labour market wakes up after its seasonal slumbers.”
“Back in the spring, I warned of a tsunami of job losses. We are now in real danger of a Super Tsunami, meaning a much larger second wave. This year we have seen the claimant count rise rapidly, and my fear is that the winter will be very tough for many businesses and workers. Hopefully, policy makers will do all they can to support the economy through this icy period to enable a strong recovery next spring.”
“It is clear that a great transition is underway. Business activities that help people stay at home are underway and many new jobs are being created. The transport, logistics and manufacturing sectors provide some hope for the year ahead, but we do need to find more ways to continue to develop new skills and to improve economic activity during this time. Technology, education, health and medicine will be areas of considerable investment and opportunities for the foreseeable future.”
“The encouraging news is that new jobs are still being created and the longer-term prospects for the economy remain good. Progress on the testing, treatment and vaccine for Covid-19 will continue and as it does the argument for lockdowns will become weaker. Hopefully, 2021 will be a lockdown free year. Businesses like clarity but obviously it will be foggy for some time to come and we will all have to learn to deal with uncertainty on an ongoing basis. “
“My watch words are resilience, adaptability and perseverance. But it is important to remember that there are opportunities at the moment, especially opportunities to recruit talented people. We are seeing many excellent candidates who would not normally have been available and who will be great assets to their next employer.”
