Quarter Snapshot
- Jobs decreased by -10% in comparison to Q1 2024
- Applications increased by 2% from the previous quarter
- The average application per job increased to 19
- The education industry had the most jobs posted at 21%
- IT & Internet industry received the most applications at 13%
- Friday was the most active day for job postings at 21%
- Wednesday had the most applications at 18%
- Monster received the most jobs posted at 15%
- Totaljobs received the most applications at 40%
Jobs and applications by month
Job applications in Q2 of 2024 have continued to remain high, with May standing out as the strongest month of the year so far, showing an impressive increase of 33% compared to the average of 2023. However, the number of job postings has taken a hit, especially in June, with a significant decrease of nearly 20% from the average in 2023.
Jobs and applications by quarter
Analysing the job market on a quarterly basis provides a more detailed understanding of the current situation. There is a significant decrease in available jobs, with a decline of 8.3% compared to the 2023 average. Meanwhile, the number of job applications continues to rise, showing an increase of 18.9% compared to the 2023 average. This imbalance in the market, with a surplus of candidates and a shortage of job opportunities, is a key trend to note.
Jobs and applications by industry
The industries with the highest number of job postings and applications are often seen as the most competitive. Education (21%), Health & Nursing (16%), IT & Internet (14%), Public Sector & Services (8%), and Manufacturing (7%) are the top five industries with the most job opportunities available.
When it comes to receiving applications, IT & Internet (13%), Manufacturing (13%), Engineering & Utilities (12%), Health & Nursing (12%), and Education (8%) are the top five industries with the highest number of applicants. This shows that there is strong interest and competition in these fields.
Average application per job by industry
In our ongoing examination of average job applications by industry, we found that in Q2 2024, the Catering & Hospitality sector received an average of 79 applications per job, followed closely by Banking with 76, Secretarial, PAs & Admin with 39, Engineering & Utilities with 35, and Marketing, Advertising & PR.
On the other end of the spectrum, industries such as Education, Construction, Public Sector & Services, Legal, and Not for Profit & Charities had significantly fewer applicants, with averages ranging from 7 to 10 applications per job.
Jobs and applications by channel
Job postings and applications vary across different channels. According to data, jobs are predominantly posted on job boards, accounting for 85% of all job postings and receiving 90% of all applications, with an average of 18 applications per job. Recruitment websites come next, with 13% of job postings and 8% of applications, receiving an average of 4 applications per job. Although social channels only contribute 2% of job postings and applications, they still attract an average of 3 applications per job.
Average application per job board
In our comparison table, we found that Totaljobs, CV-Library, and reed.co.uk consistently receive the highest average number of applications per job among generic job boards, with 31, 15, and 14 applications, respectively. For niche job boards, Caterer, Jobserve, and Secs in the City lead the pack with average application rates of 54, 52, and 43, respectively.
