Monthly performance
Both jobs and applications have dropped from January’s levels. Given January’s unexpected meteoric rise in applications, it is perhaps unexpected that applications have dropped, but only by 9%. Jobs only rose by 3% in January so a 5% fall places them below December’s figures.
The fall in jobs has at least contributed to a rise in the average number of applications per job, from 9 to 11.
Yet again we are seeing the majority of candidates applying for jobs on Mondays and Tuesdays, yet the highest percentage of jobs posted on Thursdays and Fridays.
Job posting and applications by month
Jobs are at their lowest levels since July 2021, suggesting that the boom that characterised the latter half of 2021 is finally abating. Meanwhile, applications are down from January but higher than any month in 2021. So we have decreasing jobs and applications that remain higher than at any time in 2021. Could the labour shortage be easing?
Industries with most jobs and applications in February 2022
The industries with most jobs and applications in February have barely changed from January.
The top 5 for each are unchanged, only the percentage share has altered slightly.
Manufacturing has again risen for applications, its 2% rise making it the industry with the most applications in February.
Health & Nursing and Public Sector continue to post a high number of jobs but receive relatively low numbers of applications, highlighting the continuing skills gaps in those industries.
On the flip side, Engineering, Utilities and Secretarial, PAs, Administration received amongst the highest numbers of applications but without the jobs to support those applications.
Average application per job by industry in February 2022
Given its place amongst the industries receiving the highest percentages of applications, it is perhaps unsurprising to see that Secretarial, PAs, Administration received the joint highest average numbers of applications per job alongside Banking. It is encouraging that Transport, Logistics are also receiving high average applications per job following the labour shortages the industry experienced in the latter part of 2021.
The beleaguered Travel, Leisure, Tourism industry received the lowest average number of applications per job, perhaps a sign that many have side-stepped into another industry. Social Services and Health, Nursing – both industries with historic skills shortages that have intensified over the pandemic – are also suffering from low average applications per job.
Average application per job board in February 2022
Secs in the City continues to receive a relatively high number of average applications, though that number has more than halved from January. Caterer.com also received a high number compared to other job boards but that number has dropped from last month. JobServe has increased its share and its application numbers have risen from January.
Many of the biggest generic job boards achieved similar numbers of average applications, although there has been a reshuffle amongst those receiving the highest from January.
