THERE were were 192,000 new job adverts posted across the UK in the week to June 27 as employer demand remains buoyant and at a level higher even than before the first lockdown 16 months ago, according to the latest jobs recovery tracker from the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC).
It means that there are current 1.55 million active job postings, with higher demand for roles in education as well as more adverts for professional and skilled occupations.
But where Northern Ireland was once a thriving hiring hotspot, it fills four out of the UK's bottom 10 local areas for growth in active postings last month.
REC's data shows that the steepest falls in active postings were in Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon (-7.2 per cent), Ards & North Down (-7 per cent), Mid Ulster (-6.6 per cent) and Fermanagh & Omagh (-6.2 per cent).
Neil Carberry, chief executive of the REC, said: “Sustained momentum in our jobs market is great news, but vacancies and unemployment don’t just resolve themselves – it takes support to help people find their new role.
“Rising job adverts for roles that require key skills to get hired – from IT to haulage – highlight the ongoing need to put the skills and job search support people need in place. Tackling this mis-match, in the context of a tightening labour market, should be a priority for government and businesses, working together.”
He added: “We need to act now to make sure we do the right thing for job-seekers and our economy. That means a plan that reforms the skills system by listening to business about what is really needed, like changes to the apprenticeship levy.
“It also includes ensuring job search support programmes are effective and get people to work quickly. And it should acknowledge where shortages are so severe our only option is adding roles to the immigration shortage occupation list, which is overdue a refresh.”
