New travel job seekers hit 5-year high

C&M Travel Recruitment’s Activity Index – March 2023 

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  • Candidates reach highest point since 2018
  • Vacancies edge up
  • Placements rise from Feb, but down from 2022

Travel candidates rise again

The number of new candidates searching for jobs in the travel industry has risen to its highest level in five years, according to the latest figures from C&M Travel Recruitment.

The volume of job seekers has now increased for three consecutive months and has reached a peak last seen in March 2018. Last month's total was up by 14 per cent from February and up by 39 per cent from one year ago. 

There was also a monthly rise in new travel job vacancies which edged up by 10 per cent from February. Despite being down by 63 per cent from last March's all-time record figure, March 2023's total was comparable to previous years, and stands just 12 per cent below March 2019.

Mixed picture for travel placements

It was also a contrasting month for placements with the number of candidates being placed in travel jobs rising by 35 per cent from February, but falling by 47 per cent from the ten-year high recorded last March. Compared to previous years, last month's total was up by 81 per cent from March 2020, but down by 19 per cent from March 2019.

Speaking about the stats, Barbara Kolosinska, Managing Director at C&M Travel Recruitment, said: "To see that candidate registrations have reached a five-year high is very, very welcome news. But we're in a strange position because despite there being a big increase in the number of new applicants, we're still in an extremely candidate-driven market. Ultimately, the sheer scale of the talent shortage that we've experienced over the past three years is still massively impacting travel recruitment and it will take many more months before the situation rectifies itself.

"Quality candidates still have all the power, with the best applicants receiving multiple offers from various companies and are often receiving counter offers from their current employer as well. Those travel companies looking to attract top talent right now need to act fast because the best candidates are being snapped up extremely quickly."

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All figures are drawn from the month’s new vacancies advertised with C&M Travel Recruitment.

C&M Travel Recruitment was established in 1998 and is the largest and most successful specialist travel recruitment company in the UK.

For further information please contact: Owen Mckeon (Marketing and Operations Manager - 0161 238 4497 / owen@candm.co.uk) or Barbara Kolosinska (Managing Director - 07507 602 069 / barbara@candm.co.uk).