The latest Job Report from NIJobs reveals a rise in hiring demand in the second quarter of 2024, with job postings increasing by 9 per cent and the number of vacancies hitting its highest level in three quarters.
The top five employment categories with the highest number of jobs available were Management, Sales, Skilled Trades, Social Care and Catering vacancies. These top five employment categories accounted for just over one-third of the overall job listings.
Categories that had significant rises in vacancies relative to pre-pandemic include Cleaning, Retail, Construction, Manufacturing, Skilled Trades, Logistics, Management and Engineering.
Meanwhile the most notable decline of all sectors remains IT, with the number of vacancies listed within IT down 44 per cent relative to Quarter Two in 2019. IT listings topped the recruitment table for all sectors before the pandemic and accounted for one in nine of all vacancies. In Q2 2024, the IT sector ranked 10th, with fewer than one in 20 of the overall number of vacancies.
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The NIJobs Jobseeker Snapshot also reveals that almost half of jobseekers said they would refuse a job offer if they had a bad interview or a negative hiring experience.
The insights come as the unemployment rate in NI reached a new record low of just two per cent, shining a light on the recruitment challenges facing local employers.
The survey reveals salary is the most important factor for people looking to change jobs, with 46 per cent naming it as their number one consideration, followed by flexible hours at 18 per cent and working format (hybrid/ remote) at 13 per cent.
Key dealbreakers for NI jobseekers included a negative impression during an interview (27 per cent) and a negative impression during the hiring process (19 per cent), whilst a staggering 84 per cent of jobseekers would be quicker to apply for a job if it includes information about an employer’s policy on hybrid working.
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ESG continues to be high on the agenda, with 14 per cent of candidates prepared to reject a job offer if the employers products or services have a negative impact on society; whilst 9 per cent would also turn down an offer from an employer which doesn’t have a diverse or inclusive working environment. Adding to this, 6 per cent would reject a role if the employer doesn’t have sustainability or environmental initiatives.
Sam Dooley, the Country Director of The Stepstone Group Ireland, with responsibility for NIJobs said: “With more companies hiring, the competition for talent continues to be high. Providing a positive candidate experience is now a requirement in the recruitment process otherwise employers run the risk of candidates going elsewhere.
"While you are interviewing someone for a role, they are also assessing whether your workplace is the right fit for them.
"Our Jobseeker Snapshot also highlights the importance of a positive office environment, culture, flexibility, and salary expectations for NI jobseekers. This focuses attention on the need for employers to regularly assess their employment offerings so they align with the evolving demands of local talent."
Source: NIJobs Job Report: Q2 2024 - NIJobs Recruiter News
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