The latest real-time statistics from the world’s largest network of job boards, Broadbean Technology has shown businesses in the UK are continuing to contend with huge talent shortfalls as the number of people applying for jobs keeps falling, while vacancies continue to rise.
According to Broadbean’s data, the number of applicants per vacancy (APV) across three key sectors tumbled between quarter one and quarter two 2021, while the number of vacancies increased. Across the manufacturing and production arena, vacancies rose by 32 per cent, while the APV was down 46 per cent. Meanwhile, the sectors experiencing the largest fall in applicant numbers were the logistics & supply chain and retail arena. The data reveals that the former saw vacancies rise 85 per cent, while the AVP decreased by 60 per cent, and the latter saw roles increase by 101 per cent and applicant numbers dropped by 55 per cent between quarter one and quarter two 2021.
Broadbean’s data suggests that the retail arena has been the biggest casualty which, given widespread reports in recent weeks about employers struggling to source staff as they open up again is perhaps to be expected. The ‘pingdemic’ also meant several firms reported that entire stores were being forced to shut because of staff needing to isolate. As a result, vacancies will no doubt continue to rise which given low application numbers may prove detrimental to the sector’s recovery.
“As the UK slowly emerges from the pandemic and businesses return to some sense of normality, the fact that vacancies are rising so rapidly is certainly encouraging and reflective of not only confidence returning to employers, but also businesses opening up after being shut for so long requiring staff to contend with increased demand,” said Alex Fourlis, managing director at Broadbean Technology. “However, the fact that we are seeing applicant numbers fall and companies starting to really struggle to recruit is worrying and could hamper the UK’s ability to build back after the pandemic. And while we expect applicant numbers to pick up once again in September after the usual summer lull, the next few weeks will prove a testing time for the employment market, particular given the huge numbers of people isolating due to the ‘pingdemic’.”
