The number of placements made by C&M in August increased 33% from July 2021 to reach its best figure since February 2020. However, volumes remained down compared to pre-pandemic months, with August 2021 recording a 30% fall from August 2019. C&M did not give actual figures.

The pandemic’s effects are still being seen in the number of those seeking positions. While July 2021 saw the highest volume of new candidates in three years, there was a dip in activity in August, but the month still recorded the second highest figure since January 2020.
 
Similarly, the number of new travel job vacancies fell compared with July but was still at its second highest level since the pandemic began. However, as an indication of the continuing impact of the virus, August 2021’s total volume of new vacancies was down by 39% from the same month in 2019.
 
For the January to August 2021 period compared to the same months last year, the number of new candidates was up by 37%, while new travel job vacancies increased by 29%.
 
Barbara Kolosinska, C&M Travel Recruitment and C&M Executive Recruitment director, said: "August is traditionally one of the quieter months of the year for travel recruitment because of the late summer holidays, so it’s no real surprise to see activity fall from the bumper month that we had in July.
 
"August was still the second busiest month since the start of the pandemic, but it will be very interesting to see what happens within the next couple of months as the furlough scheme ends.

“Many travel employees are still furloughed and, with the government seemingly unwilling to offer additional help, we will see just how detrimental this decision is to our industry in the coming weeks."