C&M Travel Recruitment said the 31% year-on-year uptick in new travel job vacancies came during what is "traditionally the quietest month of the year for travel recruitment", albeit still 9% lower month-on-month compared with July.

New candidates looking for travel jobs fell by 4% year-on-year in August, according to C&M's latest recruitment activity index, and also dropped compared with July (-19%).

It was a similar story with new travel job placements too, with placements falling by 13% year-on-year in August and by 9% month-on-month.

C&M had hoped August would defy expectations after new travel job vacancies went up by nearly a quarter month-on-month in July, which in turn followed increases in new candidates, placements and travel job vacancies in June.

"With the exception of December, August is traditionally the quietest month of the year for travel recruitment, so it's great to see job vacancies rising by a third from last year," said Barbara Kolosinska, Co-Owner and Managing Director of C&M Travel Recruitment.

"In addition, last month had the third highest number of new travel job opportunities so far this year – which is very rare for the month of August.

"Less encouraging are the small falls in both candidates and placements, but with applicants and decision makers now returning after the summer holidays, we're hopeful that these volumes will rise as we head into autumn."