New data from C&M Travel Recruitment and C&M Executive Recruitment found that despite a 10% dip from July, August 2022 was an "unusually busy month" for the end of summer, with more candidates being placed in new travel jobs than in any other August since the index began in 2012.
 
Last month saw a 68% increase from the same month last year, and was up by 17% from August 2019, up by 12% from August 2018, up by 3% from August 2017 and up by 23% from August 2016.
 
However, the number of new candidates searching for travel jobs dipped to its lowest level since April – which the recruitment firms believe came as a result of the summer holidays.

Traditionally the second quietest month of the year for travel recruitment behind December, last month’s figure was down by 11% from August 2021 and down by 5% from August 2019. However, the figure was up by 12% from the same month in 2018.
 
It was also a slower month for new vacancies in the sector, which slipped back to their lowest point since last December. Despite this, August 2022’s figure was up by 27% from the same month last year.

Barbara Kolosinska, managing director at C&M Travel Recruitment and C&M Executive Recruitment, said the firms are having to "actively consult" with clients to "be creative" in terms of attracting the right talent for their companies.
 
"August was also the slowest month for new travel vacancies in some time, and with the rising cost of living on everyone’s minds, it would be easy to conclude that we are witnessing early signs of a change to some companies’ hiring plans," she added.

"However, August is always one of the slowest months of the year for recruitment, so it remains to be seen how much of an impact financial concerns are having."

Kolosinska reported a "significant bounceback" in activity so far in September as the firms look to "keep a close eye" on events over the coming weeks and months.