Available jobs in London fell in March as businesses’ Brexit fears bite, but jobhunters are still looking
Those who are currently in the process of touting their CV around the City might want to invest in a good pair of walking shoes.
The number of available jobs in London fell in March compared to a year ago although the number of jobseekers is up, according to figures released today.
The research by professional services recruiter Morgan McKinley discovered that the number of jobs on offer fell by 21 per cent compared to a year ago to 7,215, while jobseekers had risen by 44 per cent to 12,998.
Meanwhile, jobs available had dropped by 13 per cent on a month-on-month basis, while the number of jobhunters had also decreased by 25 per cent.
"All the negative news came together in March giving us a rather morose end to the quarter," said Hakan Enver, operations director at Morgan McKinley Financial Services. "Reports of a slowing economy, redundancies, the Brexit referendum approaching and then the horrific terrorist attacks in Belgium, it’s little wonder that the figures are showing a decrease. With all this in mind, I'm surprised they held up so well."
On 23 June, Brits are due to head to the polling booth to decide whether the country should remain a member of the EU.
Enver added: "The Brexit is definitely affecting hiring. Many firms are nervous about the outcome and the possible ramifications. The natural reaction is to put a freeze on hiring and this is what many are now doing."