Stark warning from UK job board - 'Winter is coming'

Recruiters and hiring managers need to prepare for a long, harsh winter as advertised salaries plummet and vacancies stagnate, according to data from job board Adzuna.

The number of advertised vacancies in the UK has taken a tumble in recent months, with the latest data showing a fall of 1.4% month-on-month. This represents a 3.1% decline year on year.

Even more worryingly, advertised salaries are on their fifth consecutive month of negative growth. While the longer-term trend is still positive, these developments threaten to derail the wage recovery the UK economy experienced in the first half of 2018.

Compounding the issue, competition for roles is at an all-time low since Adzuna started compiling their stats in 2012. The researchers found there are currently three vacancies per jobseeker, indicating the fight for talent is going to be very fierce over the coming months.