UK jobs market takes coronavirus hit - but four sectors are still hiring

The number of jobs being advertised in the UK has fallen by more than a fifth in the past six weeks, a study suggests.

The hospitality industry has been the biggest casualty, losing 40% of its advertised vacancies after facing closures across the board because of the coronavirus crisis.

In contrast, vacancies for cleaners, teachers and scientists have increased, according to research by jobs site Adzuna.

The number of teaching jobs managed to rise, despite schools being closed, thanks to a surge in people looking for "Online Teachers" and "Tutors" to help home-school their children, Adzuna said.

The number of accounting jobs is also up - but only by a fraction of a percent.

There was a 40% fall in hospitality jobs being advertised (Google)

Adzuna co-founder Andrew Hunter said: "With UK unemployment likely to double in April and the number of vacancies advertised shrinking, we expect 2020 jobseekers to experience one of the most challenging and competitive job markets since we started collecting data almost 10 years ago.

"The road back to economic recovery will likely be slow and tough, but I am given solace by some sectors in the British economy still actively recruiting, as well as the national effort recruitment drives for key workers and vital healthcare staff."

The hospitality sector has suffered some of the deepest cuts in the last fortnight after experiencing nationwide closures of pubs, bars and restaurants, with 25,000 fewer job vacancies, said the report.

As well as in specific sectors, the number of jobs for graduates has fallen by 13% in recent weeks, while there has also been a drop in internships as companies hold back on hiring plans, said Adzuna.

Sectors seeing advertised vacancies rise:

• Domestic help & Cleaning Jobs 13.30%
• Teaching Jobs 4.20%
• Scientific & QA Jobs 1.40%
• Accounting & Finance Jobs 0.30%

Sectors seeing vacancies fall:

• Hospitality & Catering Jobs -39.50%
• Energy -20.10%
• Charity & Voluntary Jobs -19.50%
• Sales Jobs -15.30%
• Customer Services Jobs -14.70%
• Travel Jobs -14.20%
• Graduate Jobs -12.70%
• Manufacturing Jobs -12.40%
• Consultancy Jobs -11.80%
• Retail Jobs -11.30%
• Creative & Design Jobs -11.00%
• Admin Jobs -10.80%
• Maintenance Jobs -10.20%
• HR & Recruitment Jobs -10.10%
• Engineering Jobs -8.80%
• Property Jobs -7.20%
• Social work Jobs -5.60%
• Legal Jobs -4.70%
• IT Jobs -2.50%
• PR -1.50%
• Logistics & Warehouse Jobs -1.30%
• Trade & Construction Jobs -1.00%
• Healthcare & Nursing Jobs -0.90%