The number of new job placements in the travel industry has fallen to its lowest level since May, according to December figures from C&M Travel Recruitment and C&M Executive Recruitment.
Traditionally the quietest month of the year for travel recruitment, December 2021 was even slower than normal, said the jobs specialist.
Placement numbers were down by 54% on the same month in 2019 – although they were up by 280% from December 2020.
The number of new candidates searching for travel jobs fell in December to an annual low. However, December 2021’s total was still up 1% from December 2019 and down by only 7% from December 2018.
Furthermore, the number of new travel vacancies has fallen to its lowest level since May 2021.
December 2021’s total was up by 350% from the same month in 2020, but remained down by 32% from December 2019.
Barbara Kolosinska, director at C&M Travel Recruitment and C&M Executive Recruitment, said: “December is always the slowest month of the year for travel recruitment, so these figures are no surprise. Many candidates and hiring managers understandably focus on their holidays over the Christmas period.
“It’s a huge understatement to say that the travel industry is in a much, much healthier position than it was last January.
“We’re all eager to ensure this is a truly positive and buoyant year for travel, and we’re seeing many travel companies looking to add great travel talent to their teams so they can capitalise on the increasing demand from holidaymakers.
“The month has started very strongly, and we’ve already seen more new travel job vacancies in the first two weeks of January 2022 than we saw in the whole of December 2021.”
More: Travel job placements at highest level since February 2020