Vacancies at post-recession high but analysts warn of skills shortage

Updated

The number of job vacancies has hit a post recession high of over 1.2 million, a new report has shown.

Jobs site Adzuna said vacancies have increased by almost a third over the past year.

November saw 1,244,772 jobs advertised, many for seasonal roles, overtaking the previous record of 1,229,131 in October.

The growth in vacancies was accompanied by a rise in average advertised salaries - the first increase for eight months.

The UK average advertised salary now stands at £33,112, up 0.2% from £33,043 in October.

This increase could be the first signal of future wage inflation, said Adzuna.

Doug Monro, co-founder of Adzuna, said: "The past year has been a testing time for the UK jobs market. While overall falling unemployment and rising real wages have contributed to solid foundations for job hunters, there are still major cracks which can't be easily repaired.

"Rising vacancies can be a sign of strength, but also a sign of imbalance.

"Festive roles have boosted vacancy numbers, but this will only provide a short-term impetus. The skills shortage within the labour market, which has been constant throughout the year, has resulted in vacancies remaining unfilled for longer."

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