Data published on Wednesday (10 January) by C&M Travel Recruitment shows the number of candidates searching for a job in travel was up 22% compared to December 2022 – to hit the highest December rate for candidates in six years. Vacancies meanwhile surged 45% year-on-year.

But when compared to the previous month - November 2023 - the December figures were down by 51% and 38% respectively, due to the slowdown in activity usually seen around the Christmas period.

The number of placements also slumped in December 2023, falling by 15% compared to November and 38% year-on-year.

"Always the quietest month of the year, December 2023 didn’t buck the trend,” said C&M Travel Recruitment managing director Barbara Kolosinska. “But it was far from the slowest December we’ve seen in recent years, with encouraging numbers of new candidates and vacancies.

"We’re hoping this momentum continues into the early weeks of 2024, and we’re already seeing very positive indications that it will do just that.”