Although traditionally the quietest month of the year for travel recruitment, December 2022’s total still dropped by 39% from December 2021 – to hit the lowest figure since February 2021 – and by 58% compared with the same time in 2019.
 
Despite also falling to its lowest level this year, new candidate figures posted its highest December total since 2018. December 2022’s figure was up by 6% from the same month in 2021, up 7% from 2019 and down by 2% from December 2018.
 
The number of candidates being placed in new travel jobs also fell to an annual low in December, with volumes falling by 40% from November, but up from December 2021 by 95%.

Barbara Kolosinska, managing director at C&M Travel Recruitment, said: "As expected, December was the slowest month of the year for travel recruitment.

"The holiday distractions and the fact that many people simply take a well-earned break from work for a considerable amount of time at the end of the year always results in a big dip in activity.
 
"Thankfully, January is already looking like a much stronger month, with many excellent new roles being made available across the industry."