The number of unfilled UK job vacancies has hit 833,000 – the highest figure ever recorded by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) – and 44,000 more than the same period last year.
The growth in vacancies in the three months to August 2018 was driven by increases in vacancies in the following sectors:
- accommodation and food service activities (6,000)
- construction (5,000)
- human health and social work activities (4,000)
- administration and support service activities (3,000)
- wholesale and retail trade (3,000)
- education (2,000)
Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:
The number of job vacancies in the UK remains at an alarmingly high level, further evidence of persistent skills shortages. While the number of people in work stands close to historic highs, firms continue to report that attempting to recruit staff with the right skills is an increasingly uphill struggle, which is stifling their ability to grow and boost productivity.
These latest statistics demonstrate the challenge faced by UK recruitment managers in recruiting new employees. Talent attraction and engagement activities must be given both the attention and the resources needed in order to achieve recruitment targets in this competitive market.
