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Coronavirus: Job adverts rise as employers step up recruitment

LONDON - JULY 04: Employees pull pints at the Lordship pub in East Dulwich on July 04, 2020 in London, England. The UK Government announced that Pubs, Hotels and Restaurants can open from Saturday, July 4th providing they follow guidelines on social distancing and sanitising. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images)
Employees pull pints at the Lordship pub in East Dulwich. The UK Government announced that Pubs, Hotels and Restaurants can open from Saturday, July 4 providing they follow guidelines on social distancing and sanitising. Photo: John Phillips/Getty Images

Job adverts in the UK rose to almost one million by the end of June as businesses prepared to reopen following lockdown.

Adverts for bar and service staff increased, ahead of pubs and restaurants opening this weekend.

The number of job adverts in the last week of June was 990,000, a rise of 3% from the beginning of the month, according to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) jobs recovery tracker.

The number of job postings for bar staff rose 57% in the last week of June whilst recruitment for waiters and waitresses grew by 63% from 753 to 1,225.

There was also an increase in adverts for glaziers, bricklayers, roofers, school support staff, barbers and hairdressers, the REC said.

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But the rise in job ads may not offset the losses, particularly in the hospitality and retail sector as 14,000 workers were made redundant in just three days, this week.

Bella Italia and Café Rouge plunged into administration with more than 1,900 jobs set to be axed and John Lewis announced the closure of one of its central London offices, with store closures likely to follow.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: Hospitality sector forecasts £73bn loss

Meanwhile Upper Crust slashed 5,000 jobs and Topshop owner Aracdia reduced staff headcount by 500. Elsewhere in retail, luxury department store Harrods, furniture seller Harveys and TM Lewin cut more than 1,500 jobs between them.

The level of vacancies are still low compared to before lockdown and unemployment is expected to rise from 3.9% to as high as 10% according to the Bank of England.

Neil Carberry, REC chief executive, told The Times: "The effects of easing the lockdown are clearly reflected in jobs postings data. Our recovery can only pick up pace as consumer and business confidence returns.

“Like many businesses, we want Rishi Sunak to step up with a big plan to do this next week. Lower national insurance, designed to keep people in work, will be vital to boosting confidence, alongside investment in infrastructure and skills."