• Job competition spikes, 64% more applications per role
• 1.5+ million people in the UK already out of work
• People working in Recreation & Travel, Media and Entertainment least confident about job prospects
• Project Manager, Customer Service and Software Engineer jobs in-demand
• LinkedIn launches Career Explorer to help people find jobs that match their skills

Hiring in the UK has returned to pre-pandemic levels, but it is unlikely to improve at a rate that will offset the nation’s rising unemployment, according to new data from LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network. The data suggests that as the UK grapples to contain COVID-19, hiring may have hit a ceiling. 

As the UK furlough scheme comes to an end, and with more than 1.5 million people already out of work according to the Office for National Statistics, the country is facing a very challenging jobs market. Job seekers face stiff competition for roles, with applications per job up 64% compared to this time last year. LinkedIn’s Workforce Confidence Index finds that people working in the sectors hit hardest by the global pandemic, including Recreation & Travel, Media and Entertainment, are the least confident about their job prospects in the next 12 months. 

As countries around the world face a second wave of infections, LinkedIn’s data also suggests that avoiding a lockdown to preserve the economy doesn’t improve the national hiring picture in the long run, with Sweden tracking behind other European countries. 

However, LinkedIn data shows there are pockets of hiring growth, with 14+ million jobs available on LinkedIn globally. UK employers are currently hiring for Project Manager, Customer Service and Software Engineer roles. Furthermore, LinkedIn has identified 10 jobs that have experienced steady growth over the last several years and predict will continue to grow in demand by employers in the future, including Digital Marketer, Graphic Designer and Data Analyst. Digital skills in particular are in demand, with LinkedIn data forecasting the technology sector will add 150 million jobs globally in the next 5 years.

Josh Graff, UK Country Manager at LinkedIn, said: “As the furlough scheme draws to a close, there is huge anxiety across the country about what is going to happen to people’s jobs. Many people working in the sectors hardest hit by the pandemic, such as Travel, Entertainment and Hospitality, have seen their lives and livelihoods completely devastated this year and are questioning what to do next. Focusing on transferable skills can help open up a variety of roles that people may not have previously considered. Skills can be applied to different jobs or industries, creating new employment opportunities. Likewise, investing time in developing new skills, being proactive in your job search and engaging your professional network is key to finding a new job quickly.”

Helping the UK workforce find jobs 

To help people who are looking for new job opportunities, LinkedIn has launched:

• Career Explorer – an interactive tool to help people find jobs that match their skills. Using LinkedIn data, job seekers can see how their skills can lead them to new career opportunities, what additional skills they may need, along with LinkedIn Learning courses that can help fill those gaps. This is rolling out in beta globally starting today, with additional localisations and enhancements in the coming months. Around 870k LinkedIn members in the UK are no more than 3 skills away from being a qualified Project Manager, one of the most in-demand roles. 
• LinkedIn members can use the #OpenToWork profile photo frame to signal to employers that they are looking for new opportunities. Members with an #OpentoWork photo frame receive on average 40% more messages from recruiters and are 20% more likely to receive messages from the broader LinkedIn community. 
• Hiring managers can also use the #Hiring profile photo frame to signal open roles to their network so job seekers can easily see who is hiring. Furthermore, anyone who is hiring for open roles can post a job on LinkedIn for free. 
• To gain new skills, people can access nearly 1,000 hours of free learning courses from Microsoft and LinkedIn at opportunity.linkedin.com to learn the skills most in-demand by employers today. In the past three months alone, more than half a million people in the UK have learned digital skills through these courses. 

Job seeker, Paul Johnston-Naylor, said: “In my career, I’ve transitioned from being a security guard, to a flagship Store Manager working in Retail, to a General Manager working in Leisure. I’ve seen firsthand how your skills can take you places – into roles that you may not have considered before or thought attainable. Like many people all over the country right now, I know what it’s like to be on furlough and for the future to feel uncertain. However, I also know that being proactive in your job search, focusing on how your skills can be applicable to other roles, asking your network for support, and importantly, believing in yourself, can open doors and new opportunities.”