A look at the employment market halfway through 2024

Here at Work Avenue, our team of employment and business experts have been examining how the jobs and business markets stand at this halfway point of 2024.

Our employment team – who support thousands of clients with their job search and training needs each year – have found that while there are more jobs are available now than at this point last year, at the same time people are becoming choosier about what they apply for.

Work Avenue CEO Debbie Lebrett said: “The good news is that we are seeing many more jobs available – both on our own Jobs Board and generally in the marketplace – and we expect that continue for the rest of the year.

“However, through our conversations and the one-to-one support we offer clients, we are also finding that people are much more picky about what they apply for.

“There are three reasons for this. The first is salary. The cost of living crisis has led to people becoming more concerned about their finances and therefore less willing to take lower-level and/or lower paying roles than they would have previously.

“The second is that sometimes a potential employee’s skillset may not match the job on offer. That is why we are always developing new workshops and training courses to help job seekers retrain and reskill. Our courses on new technology and AI have proved extremely popular in this respect and helped people gain these essential skills so important to many of today’s employers.

“Finally, we have done a lot of work around metal health and how that can be affected by the job search and employment. We are finding that often people are very choosy about what they apply for due to concerns on their mental health if they get it wrong, or stress and anxiety caused by previous poor managers or personal circumstances.”

Another key finding from our team is that, alongside salary, the desire for purpose-driven work and a positive working environment is a key driver for those seeking employment or looking to change jobs.

Recent press articles have reported the same situation in the wider British jobs market – especially around wage growth not keeping pace with inflation and how that has impacted the jobs people will apply for.

Echoing a story in this week’s Times, we have also found a tough market for graduates – with the number of internship placements falling and many of those that still exist being unpaid.

Other sections of the community who are finding it hard to secure rewarding work include those who are neurodivergent, older workers and returners to the job market.

Debbie added: “While there are challenges for people looking for work – especially for those who may need to update their skillsets – Work Avenue is here to help with a range of workshops, training courses and expert one-to-one support. So, whatever your situation, please do get in touch.”