Increase in job vacancies at highest since coronavirus lockdown, study finds

REUTERS
Sean Morrison @seanmorrison_25 September 2020

More than 120,000 new job adverts were posted last week, the highest number since the coronavirus lockdown, according to a report.

The total number of vacancies is now around 1.2 million, said the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).

There has been an increase in adverts for school support jobs such as crossing patrols, childminders and teachers as more schools and workplaces reopen, said the report.

REC said there has been a trend of steady growth in job postings in recent months.

Chief executive Neil Carberry said: "Since lockdown restrictions were lifted at the beginning of June, we have seen the number of job adverts increasing steadily as the economy began its recovery.

"In recent weeks, this recovery has accelerated in the areas you would expect - education and childminding as people return to school and work, construction and logistics, and also healthcare occupations not directly related to the pandemic.

"Government must think very carefully about any further restrictions they put into place. Public health must be a priority, but we should not underestimate the long-term effects that recession and unemployment have."