Average pay in May for a typical new job in travel soared to its highest level in six years, new data reveals.
Pay levels increased year-on-year by 3.36% and by 2.45% over April to reach £23,607.
The salary figure is the highest total since the C&M Travel Recruitment and C&M Executive Recruitment travel salary index was introduced in 2011 and follows the 4.92% monthly increase seen in April.
Much of the rise was due to the 6.70% monthly spike in salaries paid in the North. The region saw wages for new travel jobs reach their highest point for three years and jump 10.29% annually.
Overall, average travel wages stood at £26,068 in May, the second highest figure in the past year despite a 0.33% dip from the previous month.
May recorded the second highest number of new travel jobs since April 2015 with a monthly rise of 17%.
There was also a 15% monthly increase in candidate registrations, which translated to an 18% rise over May 2016. The number of new vacancies and job seekers has gone up every month of 2017 so far.
This means that the volume of new travel jobs has increased by 28% in the first five months of the year compared to the same period in 2016.
C&M director Barbara Kolosinska said: “With an average of £23,607, the typical new travel job in the UK is now paying more than ever before.
“This means that job seekers across the country have a wealth of roles available to them, many of which come with very attractive salaries.
“We also had an exceptional month in the North. With a jump of 6.70%, northern travel salaries have reached a three-year high and are up over 10% from the same point last year. That’s a stunning figure and is largely a result of the higher wages being offered for some business travel consultant roles in Manchester, Edinburgh and in the North-East.”
She added: “There seems to be no let-up in activity in 2017. Once again, we have seen more travel jobs being made available than at the same point last year as well as more candidates searching for new roles.
“This can only be good for the industry as it shows that great candidates are feeling confident enough to look for new opportunities and are available to companies offering the right package.”