Travel industry workers have seen pay rise strongly in the first half of the year.
Average salaries have gone up by 3.71% per cent – or almost £950 – in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period last year.
The average wage for new travel jobs has risen to £26,460, while pay for standard travel roles with a salary of up to £40,000 recorded a 5.93% increase to £24,451, according to new tracel trade pay analysis.
The positive findings were replicated across the country with a 4.01% salary increase in the north of the UK and a 3.34% rise in the south, leading average wages in the areas to stand at £22,856 and £28,279 respectively.
The increases have caused the number of entry-level placements – those paying up to £22,000 a year – to fall by 14% in the past year, while the number of mid-level placements – paying between £22,001 and £29,999 – has risen by 56% from 2017.
Entry-level roles now account for 38% of all placements, compared to 51% last year.
The results of a the travel salary index by C&M Travel Recruitment and C&M Executive Recruitment covered all new roles registered at companies during the first half of the year.
More new candidates than ever were recorded in the January to June period. The total topped last year’s previous high by one per cent, while also increasing by 33% from 2016, 24% from 2015, 35% from 2014, five per cent from 2013 and 21% from 2012.
It was also a historically busy time for new travel jobs despite the total falling by seven per cent from the record showing in the first half of 2017, according to the travel recruitment firm.
The total number of travel jobs created between January and June 2018 rose by 19% from 2016, was level with 2015 and increased by nine per cent from 2014, 14% from 2013 and 12% from 2012.
C&M director Barbara Kolosinska said: “Travel salaries have risen across the country in the first half of 2018 in what has been a very positive six months for the industry.
“It’s especially encouraging to see the consistency of the increases across different locations, with wages rising by between three and four per cent in both the north and south of the UK.
“We’ve also seen a record-breaking number of candidates registering their interest in finding a new job in travel during the timeframe.
“However, it remains a candidate-driven market, with many fantastic opportunities available to quality applicants.”