“Power in the jobs market is returning to jobseekers,” according to Jane Lorigan, CEO of Saongroup.com Ireland, parent company of IrishJobs.ie and Jobs.ie.
The latest Jobs Index from IrishJobs.ie has recorded a 14% rise in the total number of jobs advertised annually.
While the number of jobs advertised online is up 2% between July and September this year, compared with the previous quarter.
The Jobs Index is a leading indicator for the jobs market reporting on all jobs advertised, including professional roles.
Commenting on the positive job news Lorigan says it time for companies to rethink how they treat job seekers.
“Companies need to recognise the shift in power to the jobseeker and improve on these poor recruitment practices. Companies have to compete for talented jobseekers and those that treat candidates with respect, that is, replying to applications, providing interview feedback and also nurturing the people they hire, will attract the best people.” she says.
In tandem with the Jobs Index, IrishJobs.ie monitors Jobseeker Sentiment surveying more than 1,000 people either in work, currently unemployed or in education/training. 61 per cent of those surveyed, in employment, are confident that the jobs market is getting better, along with 38 per cent of those in education or training. Only 25 per cent of jobseekers, not in employment are positive about the jobs market revealing a significant gap in optimism.
Almost two thirds of those currently employed have not had a pay rise and although they believe that the jobs market has improved they do not feel better off financially. One third claim to be worse off and 42 per cent claim to be in the same situation financially as last year, with this experience mirrored for the group in education or training. 54 per cent of jobseekers believe they are worse off now than they were at this time last year, 35 per cent claim to be the same and only 5 per cent feel better off.
The annual increase of 14 per cent in total jobs advertised is supported by growth in many industries with graduate jobs up by 15 per cent year on year.
Sectors recording a rise in jobs advertised in October 2015 compared with the previous year include Medical Professionals and Healthcare, up by 50 per cent; Science, Pharmaceuticals and Food, up 45 per cent; Transport up by 40 per cent; Hotel and Catering, up 31 per cent; Production, Manufacturing and Materials, up 22 per cent; Secretarial and Admin, up by 23 per cent; HR and Recruitment, up by 20 per cent; Banking, Financial Services and Insurance, up 18 per cent; IT, up by 11 per cent; and Construction, Architecture, Property and Engineering, up 7 per cent, compared with the same time last year.
Sector increases July-September 2015
In Q3, July-September 2015, hiring is reported across many sectors: HR and Recruitment, up 19 per cent; Medical Professionals and Healthcare, up 9 per cent; Science, Pharmaceuticals and Food, up 13 per cent; Retail, up by 8 per cent; Hotel and Catering, and Sales, both up 4 per cent. Graduate jobs for the third quarter were up 6 per cent.
Decrease for some sectors July-September 2015
A decrease in total jobs advertised is recorded for sectors including Telecoms, down by 20 per cent; Legal, down 13 per cent; and Customer Service and Call Centres, down 2 per cent.
Jobseeker Opinion
The quarterly survey on sentiment in the jobs market carried out by IrishJobs.ie indicates confidence among all respondents, stronger however for those employed or in education and weaker for those currently unemployed. IrishJobs.ie analyses the responses of three groups: employed, job seeking and people in college/training, with more than 1,000 surveyed in total.
23 per cent of people in a job are very confident and 50 per cent are confident that they would find a new job within less than 3 months (46 per cent) or within 3 to 6 months (32 per cent). More money is the main factor driving a change of job (54 per cent), followed by more challenges (20 per cent) and more job security (19 per cent).
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