Hope for Jobseekers: Vacancies fall was a blip, not a trend
The latest Labour Market statistics have shown that job vacancies have risen in the months surrounding the General Election. In the three months to May 2010, there were 492,000 job vacancies throughout the UK, up by 17,000 on the previous market bulletin.
The data from the Office for National Statistics shows that a fall in vacancies from February to April seemed to be a blip on the steady increase that has been seen since June 2009.
This increase occurred despite disruptions surrounding the General Election and concerns which remain over debt. But although companies are recruiting more staff, the Reed Job Index has indicated that what employers are prepared to pay for staff has fallen over the same period.
The average wage for new starters declined to £31,800 in May from £33,200 in April.
Gary Hewett, Managing Director of leading technical and engineering recruitment firm ATA Verticals remarked “It is certainly positive news that the demand for staff has seen a general upward trend since this time last year, and that April’s concerns over a fall in vacancies seem to be unfounded.
“The cost constraints some employers are still facing are manifesting less so in a lack of recruitment, but simply in how much they are willing to pay their employees.
“Many employers are now grasping the opportunity to recruit talented people who are seeking work to grow their businesses as we move out of the recession.
“The number of vacancies is now around 50,000 higher than this time last year. If this rise continues, candidates can expect to be put back in the driving seat when it comes to negotiating salaries and job terms.
The data from the Office for National Statistics shows that a fall in vacancies from February to April seemed to be a blip on the steady increase that has been seen since June 2009.
This increase occurred despite disruptions surrounding the General Election and concerns which remain over debt. But although companies are recruiting more staff, the Reed Job Index has indicated that what employers are prepared to pay for staff has fallen over the same period.
The average wage for new starters declined to £31,800 in May from £33,200 in April.
Gary Hewett, Managing Director of leading technical and engineering recruitment firm ATA Verticals remarked “It is certainly positive news that the demand for staff has seen a general upward trend since this time last year, and that April’s concerns over a fall in vacancies seem to be unfounded.
“The cost constraints some employers are still facing are manifesting less so in a lack of recruitment, but simply in how much they are willing to pay their employees.
“Many employers are now grasping the opportunity to recruit talented people who are seeking work to grow their businesses as we move out of the recession.
“The number of vacancies is now around 50,000 higher than this time last year. If this rise continues, candidates can expect to be put back in the driving seat when it comes to negotiating salaries and job terms.
