Number of new travel jobs hits five-year high

The number of new travel jobs has hit the highest mark for at least five years as employers gain confidence to expand and create new roles.

Salaries are up for junior and mid-range positions, but have dropped for executive roles in the past year.

More new travel vacancies and candidate registrations were recorded in the first six months of 2017 than in any comparable period since at least 2011, according to the 2017 H1 Travel Salary Index from C&M Travel Recruitment and C&M Executive Recruitment.

Over a quarter more travel jobs were created between January and June 2017 than the same period in 2016.

Candidate registrations have risen 32% in the first six months of 2017. Both candidate and vacancy numbers have increased year-on-year in every month of 2017 so far.

C&M director Barbara Kolosinska said: "In terms of activity, the first half of 2017 was truly historic – we’ve never seen figures like this before.

"Both the number of travel vacancies and candidates searching for new roles are way up from the first six months of last year, so we’ve been busier than ever.

"Despite the many uncertainties that currently hang over us in the UK, it is fantastic to see that many travel companies are feeling confident enough to expand and create brand new roles – and this is encouraging lots of great candidates to explore the different opportunities that are now available to them."

Wages for the average new job in travel fell by 1.9% (or £495) to £25,513 in the first six months of 2017 compared to the same period last year, although salaries for new standard travel jobs (those paying up to £40,000) rose annually by 2.5% (or £570) to reach £23,082.

The fall in overall pay was mainly due to an increase in lower salaried positions.

There was a mixed picture around the country with northern wages rising marginally by 0.12% to hit £21,974, while salaries for jobs in the south dipped to £27,366 – a fall of 2%.

Kolosinska added: "There’s no consistent trend for travel salaries in 2017 so far – they’ve risen in the north, but fallen in the south, and have increased for junior and mid-range roles, but dipped for executive positions.

"What is consistent is that companies have been creating far more new travel jobs than they did last year and recruitment activity is through the roof. Fingers crossed for a similar second half of the year."

C&M’s findings have been backed up by similar research by job advert search engine Adzuna.

Overall, the number of vacancies advertised in June 2017 on Adzuna was the highest since November 2015.

Average travel salaries are up 5%, according to Adzuna, at £25,792.

Adzuna co-counder Doug Monro said: "The rise in the number of vacancies highlights the resilience of the UK jobs market."

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