Numbers of new candidates, vacancies and placements all increased in September according to C&M Travel Recruitment’s latest travel salary index, despite the collapse of Britain’s oldest and most iconic travel firm coming just a week before the end of the month.
New candidates registering for roles in September reached its highest level since January, up 14% compared to the same month last year.
“There was also a 9% monthly increase in the number of new travel vacancies being created, with many companies in the industry looking at the opportunity to take on some of Thomas Cook’s finest employees,” said C&M.
Placements, meanwhile, increased 5% on August, and were up 16% on September 2018.
Barbara Kolosinska, director at C&M Travel Recruitment and C&M Executive Recruitment, said: “The increase in new candidates last month following the dreadful Thomas Cook news was almost inevitable, but what’s great to see is the rise in vacancies with many companies recognising the wealth of talent currently available and creating new opportunities for them.
“For those staff who were made redundant and haven’t found a new role yet, we advise them to continue to apply for roles, send your CV directly to travel companies as well as to recruitment agencies, use your existing contacts in the industry and attend the various open days and recruitment events that are being held across the country.”
September proved a mixed month, though, for rates of pay in the travel sector, C&M found.
While the average salary for new jobs in travel fell 1.59% to £28,188, the average rate over the rolling 12-month period to the end of September 2019 remains up 5.41%.
Average pay for standard travel jobs, those paying up to £40,000, also fell in September, down 4.08% to £24,826. The 12-month rolling average though remains up 3.64%.
C&M said the drops were largely a result in a drop in wages for new travel jobs in the north of the UK, which fell 6.31% in September to £21,895, the lowest rate since May 2018.
Salaries in the south, by comparison, fell 1.32%.
