April’s total was up by 34% compared with March and by 15% compared with April 2023, the first year-on-year increase in placements since January 2023. However, the overall picture remains nearly 40% down compared with pre-pandemic levels, C&M told TTG.

"Any month when job placements rise by a third has to be considered a very positive few weeks,” said C&M managing director Barbara Kolosinska. “Placements are still down compared to pre-pandemic, but they rose from last April, which is a fantastically bright sign as we head into the early summer.”

While the number of new candidates (-6%) and vacancies (-19%) dipped in April compared with March, both are up by 9% year-on-year compared with April 2023.

"It’s also still a mixed picture for both new candidates and vacancies, which rise one month and then dip the next,” Kolosinska added. “New travel roles are being made available each and every day, but what we really need is consistency over the next few months."