C&M Travel Recruitment has reported that the number of new job seekers has risen to its highest level in five years – but a shortage of talent is still affecting the market.
The travel recruitment specialist said the volume of job seekers has now increased for three consecutive months and has reached a peak last seen in March 2018.
Last month’s total was up by 14% from February and up by 39% year on year.
Meanwhile, the number of new travel job vacancies rose by 10% from February.
The company said it was “a contrasting month” for placements, with the number of candidates being placed in travel jobs rising by 35% from February – but falling by 47% from the 10-year high recorded last March.
Barbara Kolosinska, managing director at C&M Travel Recruitment, said: “To see that candidate registrations have reached a five-year high is very, very welcome news.
“But we’re in a strange position because despite there being a big increase in the number of new applicants, we’re still in an extremely candidate-driven market.
“Ultimately, the sheer scale of the talent shortage that we’ve experienced over the past three years is still massively impacting travel recruitment and it will take many more months before the situation rectifies itself.
“Quality candidates still have all the power, with the best applicants receiving multiple offers from various companies and are often receiving counter offers from their current employer as well.
“Those travel companies looking to attract top talent right now need to act fast because the best candidates are being snapped up extremely quickly.”
All figures are drawn from the month’s new vacancies advertised with C&M Travel Recruitment.
Picture of Barbara Kolosinska by John Cassidy The Headshot Guy