According to jobs board Reed, more than 7 million job seekers use their site to search for work each month, seeing over 160,000 applications submitted every day.

And this month they saw 1.30 million active job adverts in the first week of February, returning to levels last seen in late June 2020.

So, with hopes for future hiring finally returning, how will it change in 2021? We take a look at Reed’s Year of Movement Report…

In December 2020, reed.co.uk surveyed 1,521 active job seekers who are on the site looking for work. This is what they found:

Adaptation

This year job seekers are much more willing to adapt to the job market to secure work, with two-thirds of respondents (70%) revealing they would work in a different sector or even take a pay cut if the right opportunity was to arise. 53% of respondents also said they would consider moving abroad. With this in mind, employers can make use of job seekers willing to adjust. But they should also become more lenient themselves as the importance of work flexibility continues to rise.

Recovering Market

Despite the UK entering yet another lockdown in the early days of 2021, Reed saw 10% more jobs on the site, compared to lockdown two and 101% higher than lockdown one, suggesting positive stead for the market. Not to mention a strong close for hiring in 2020, as November saw their busiest job posting month since the start of the pandemic.

Year of Movement

Job seekers are not put off their search this year, as 82% of those surveyed said they are hopeful they will find a new job in 2021. With this sense of optimism is renewed, the report predicts a year of movement. As new opportunities arise, employees will be a willing step outside their comfort zone and even explore a different sector, particularly those that are growing.

Other key findings: 

• Tourism workers are amongst the most willing to relocate for an opportunity.
• Employees in creative industries are least likely to change sectors.
• Hospitality workers and recruiters are most willing to take a pay cut for the right role.
• Jobseekers aged 55 and over are the least hopeful about finding work in 2021.
• Those aged between 16-24 are also less optimistic about their career prospects.
• 72% would consider moving into a new sector to improve their employment prospects

James Reed, chairman of Reed, said: “The pandemic has sent shockwaves through the UK economy over the past year.

“All sectors have been impacted to varying degrees, both positively and negatively, and large sections of the population have made the shift to working remotely.

“2021 will be another year of significant change for many businesses and workers as the pandemic continues and the roll-out of the vaccine hopefully restores confidence.

“Lots of job seekers are now looking for better opportunities, and employers have a diverse and talented pool of people to choose from.

“We are seeing great dynamism, resilience and a willingness to adapt in the labour market, and this makes me feel optimistic as we enter 2021.

“Our recent job vacancy figures also suggest there is reason to be cheerful. Despite the national lockdown, vacancies have continued to increase, and we now have nearly 175,000 new jobs listed.

“To secure the best of these jobs, people must continue to be versatile and enhance their prospects by upskilling and/or, reskilling.

“It’s also encouraging to see so many people are willing to try new opportunities in other sectors and regions.”

Click here for the full Year of Movement Report.

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