Job market remains defiant in the week after Government postpones lifting of lockdown

On the day that lockdown restrictions were due to be lifted, the latest data from the UK’s leading independent job board, CV-Library, reveals that the job market held surprisingly steady in the week following the announcement that restrictions would remain in place due to the impact of the delta variant of COVID-19.

Overall, job postings fell by a marginal -1.8% since the announcement was made last Monday and are up +16.9% when compared to the same period last month.

However, industry breakdowns highlighted the huge variations since the news that lockdown restrictions would remain in place. Jobs posted in management rose +23% week on week, electronics positions were up +21%, retail jobs spiked by +20%, medical/pharmaceutical/scientific grew by 18% and marketing jobs were up by +15%.

At the other end of the scale, jobs posted in the much talked about hospitality sector dropped by -15%, as did roles in education. Public sector vacancies dipped by -14%, whilst catering and the automotive and aerospace industry experienced an -8% decline.

Job seekers seemed to take the news well and overall applications to jobs, since 15th June, rose +2.4% when compared to the previous week. Applications to jobs in marketing rose by the highest percentage (+23%). Other industries with boosted applications were: management +13%, customer services +9%, distribution +6% and hospitality +5.5%.

Lee Biggins, CEO and founder of Resume-Library comments: “Many people will be surprised to see how, despite the obvious disappointment, both UK businesses and job seekers have responded positively to the delay in the lifting of restrictions.”

Biggins continues: “Glimpses of normality elsewhere, with increased numbers allowed to attend the various sporting events currently taking place in the UK and Europe are contributing to the sense of hope that this really is the last pushback and the UK economy is on the cusp of a sustained period of growth.”