Job vacancies rise in sign of growing confidence

JOB opportunities are improving across the economy, according to figures out today.

There has been a 24 per cent leap in available posts compared to this time last year, meaning the number of applications per vacancy has fallen from 16 to 14.

The data is taken from the totaljobs.com barometer, which analyses the behaviour of 4.8 million jobseekers and 5,000 recruiters each month.

The warm weather has given the travel, leisure and tourism industry a boost in Scotland, with a 33 per cent rise in available jobs. This had a knock-on effect for the catering and hospitality sector, which saw vacancies increase by 31 per cent.

The figures suggest that the retail industry is picking up after a tough start to the year, which saw a number of companies collapse. The number of retail jobs in Scotland has risen 12 per cent, suggesting that customers are spending on the high street again.

A recent surge in the housing market has increased job opportunities in property, which has recorded a 55 per cent jump in vacancies.

The number of jobs in banking, insurance and finance fell by 20 per cent.

However there are increasing opportunities available in accountancy, which saw an 18 per cent increase in job opportunities, causing competition for jobs to fall by 15 per cent.