Across the UK, the jobs market grew by 19% in the last quarter and applications were up 42%. However, there were wide variations between regions, with some areas growing at more than 3% above the national average. Scotland's 73% increase in applications also stands out, as does the 32 people on average applying for each role in the South East.
East Anglia
Although the East Anglia job market grew in the last quarter, it grew at the slowest rate of all regions in the UK. Jobs advertised increased by 10% on the last set of figures from 2010, while applications grew by nearly a quarter (nearly all other regions showed increases of over 40%). Jobseekers in East Anglia face the least competition for roles in the UK, with less than nine applications received per job.
East Midlands
There were more than 300,000 additional job applications in this quarter compared to Q3 2010, a 50% rise that is only bettered in two other regions. The employment market itself has grown ahead of the UK curve as well, with a 19% increase in jobs advertised. Consequently, applications per job now stands at 13.5, a rise of nearly a third on 2010’s final quarter.
London
Tracking just below the nationwide figures, competition for jobs in London is still fierce but, importantly for jobseekers, doesn’t seem to be getting any tougher. There were 17% more jobs advertised in the capital in the first quarter, with over a third more applications. Meanwhile, applications per job only rose by 16%, although this means that an average of 22 people are now applying for every position in London.
North East
Nearly 2,000 extra jobs were created in the North East in the last quarter, translating into a 23% increase in the jobs market, the largest hike in the UK. Competition for these additional roles is just as tough, though, with a 56% increase in applications during this time. As a result, jobseekers in the North East can now expect to be one of 19 applicants for any job, an increase of over a quarter.
North West
With the largest job market outside of London and the South East, it's no surprise that 20 people apply for every job advertised – an increase of a quarter on last year’s final figures, but nearly two-thirds more than the competition faced by jobseekers this time last year. The market itself grew by 20% over last quarter’s figures, but an additional 240,000 applications (a 50% increase) helped bump up that applications per job figure to a new high.
Northern Ireland
With just over 10% more jobs available in this quarter, Northern Ireland’s employment market continues to grow more slowly than in the rest of the UK. Applications grew by 50%, but the number of applications for each job has only increased from seven to nine, placing Northern Ireland joint bottom of this particular table.
Scotland
Scotland enjoyed a buoyant first quarter of 2011. While the job market grew by less than the national average (only 11% compared to 19% nationally), the number of applications received for jobs increased by a staggering 73% - the highest increase in the UK. With 14 people now applying for every job (an increase of 55%), jobseekers now face more competition than ever before.
South East
Nearly 18,000 additional roles were created in this quarter compared to the last three months of 2010, translating into an ahead-of-the-curve 20% rise. There were nearly 100,000 jobs available in the region, eclipsing every quarterly figure since the start of 2009. Competition for jobs has always been rife in the South East, but with 32 people now applying for every role (an increase of over a quarter), the lot for jobseekers looks tougher than ever.
South West
The South West grew in line with the overall UK market in the last few months, with a 19% rise in the number of jobs available in the region. Both applications and applications per job tracked the UK figures, with 46% more applications and 29% more applicants per position. The latter pushes the number of people applying for each role into double figures for the first time in this region.
Wales
After a steady 2010, the Welsh jobs market increased to the tune of 18%, with nearly 1,500 more positions available. Sixteen applications are now received for every job advertised, an increase of a quarter, and applications themselves tracked ahead of the UK average, with a 46% increase taking the figure beyond 150,000 for the first time.
West Midlands
A 19% increase in the number of jobs available places the West Midlands firmly in line with the UK average. More than half a million job applications were completed in the last quarter, beating the previous quarterly best seen in the West Midlands by over 100,000 – and translating into a 50% increase on the last few months of 2010. Jobseekers can expect strong competition for roles to continue, with the applications per job figure now rising a quarter to 17.
Yorkshire
Employers in Yorkshire helped the market there grow in the last quarter by 23%, an increase only equalled in the North East. While applications rose at exactly the overall UK rate (42%), the increase in competition for places is not as significant as in other regions – a 21% increase takes the number of people applying for each role to 14.
>Overview
Regional analysis
>Sector by sector
>Public sector
>Graduate focus
>Infographic
>Appendices
>Scottish Barometer report
