According to new statistics, the number of job openings in December 2024 is back at pre-pandemic levels.
The Recruitment & Employment Confederation’s (REC) Labour Market Tracker revealed that there were 1,415 574 active postings at the end of the year. This is a 5.5% decrease from November 2024.
The number of listings has fallen to the levels reported in December 2019, before the Covid outbreak. There were 1,41m listings.
In the UK there were 550.982 new jobs posted – a decline of 16.8% from the previous months, reflecting the seasonal holiday slowdown.
REC Chief Executive Neil Carberry stated: “December is always a low-point in recruitment, so we’ll have to wait until January and February numbers to judge our position as firms return to market in 2025.
“Despite the long-term slowdown in demand for workers, we have only recently returned to norms that existed before the pandemic. This shows that there is still opportunity out there, and that skilled recruiters will be happy to assist with your next steps.
A new job can be the best way for someone to increase their wage and opportunities in their career. We expect that the return of growth in this year’s economy will encourage businesses to hire and invest.
He said that employers would look to the Chancellor for support in boosting employment rates.
“We see that firms need to change their approach to make the most of the people they have and the technology that’s available to them. Carberry says that hiring should be an important strategic activity for any business. “Too many businesses haven’t reached this point yet,” he said.
Variations by region and sector
Data showed that the South East had the highest number of job openings, with an increase of 4.5%. This was followed by East Surrey, 2.8%, Portsmouth, 2.3%, and 1.3% for north-east West Sussex. As a whole, the South East saw a drop of 4.0%.
According to figures, Dudley (-14.6%), East Dunbartonshire (15.1%)and Ealing(-15.5%) saw the largest declines in the number of posts.
Central Bedfordshire (26,3%), Devon (4,5%) and East Sussex (4.5%) showed the largest increase in job listings.
In December 2024, the number of childminding positions increased by 106.3%. This is more than doubled from 430 up to 887.
The number of Optometrist listings increased by 88.9% during the same time period. Authors, writers, and translators also saw an increase, and listings for train and tram drivers grew by 49.5%.
From November to December 2024, the number of job postings for bartenders, coffee shop workers and hairdressers/barbers decreased by 26,6%.
Sector-wise, driving and logistic postings fell by 8.1% while listings for hospitality and catering dropped by 15.7% during the same time period. Retail saw a 12.1% decline.
The shifting market
Carberry stated: “It is surprising that so few people have noticed the UK’s longest job market contraction since 2000. The fact that we have managed to navigate through this without a total meltdown shows the strength, resilience, and flexibility of our skilled workforce.
He said that businesses should be prepared to take advantage of the shift in the labour market this year.
Carberry said: “With the shrinking workforce in the United States and fierce competition for talent, business can only unlock their best opportunities by forming a more strategic, deeper partnership with talent.” In 2025, businesses can get more value from their recruiters by requesting more strategic support.
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