What's the job situation like in your area, is it really as dire as it's made out?

TrixieB

I am employed but off longterm sick and looking for what I can do in the future. I will need to retrain.

I see lots of posts/media reports/etc telling us there are jobs out there for everyone.

Are there?

In my area going by the two most common methods of advertising jobs, the local newspaper and the job centre website last week my newspaper had 7 job vacancies of which only one was not a technical/have to have specific quals for, and on my jobseekers direct search today there are 3 new vacancies, all three have to have specific qualifications too.

It's making me rather depressed that the kind of positions I could do in the future just don't seem to crop up often and I am realising that I am likely to face a period of unemployment when I am fit and well again.

Out of interest what is the situation like in your own area?

dandelionclock30

Absolutley terrible here, the Evening paper on jobs night has 2 sides of jobs this is for a city with a million inhabitants!
Even voluntary work is highly competative and people get turned away!
Regarding the jobs I've been going for, the prospective employers are getting close on 100 applicants for each post! and they make you feel they are doing you a favour just interviewing you.
Its an absolute joke.

LadyMissA

The ones I am appyling for have up to 400. Had an interview yesterday and was told they were totally overwhelmed with CV's but did they did read them all & are only seeing 5 for the job.

Aelius

I've just returned [with my sister] after finishing my degree in Scotland, to North East England. Allegedly the NE has the worst unemployment rate in the UK, yet today - two days after moving - my sister was offered a job.

Personally, I think the jobs situation is worse in Scotland.

TrixieB

Aelius wrote: »

Personally, I think the jobs situation is worse in Scotland.

And guess where I live!!:eek:

planning303

round my way it depends i suppose on your skill set / what you're prepared to do.

the factory that i work in generally stuggles to find workers that are prepared to do the low paid generic factory work.

I'm currently looking for a new role and have been applying locally / nationally and have had to turn interviews down as there simply arn't enough hours to attend everything that's being put to me. But i suspect if i wasn't already in a fairly niche job i probably wouldn't be blas! about it

Horace

I am in Birmingham which has the highest rate of unemployment in the UK. The job situation is dire. I have been unemployed for a month having been forced to give up my business because of the recession - no-one wants to pay for people to organise events. I have been applying for work since June and in that time have had 3 interviews - I had an interview last week for a 3hr cleaning job but that had already gone by the time I had been asked for interview:mad: (called in morning at 9am got offered interview at 3pm that day, job had gone at 9am). I came close on one job but lost out because although I had organised big events before I hadn't organised a music festival and the other one I didnt really want anyway and the interview did not go well at all - I knew when I was sitting in there that it wasn't going well.

I am using the jobcentre website, various industry specific websites for jobs, I have feelers out everywhere - my business connections are looking.

planning303

I suppose looking for a specific role within an industry that is feeling the brunt of the "current climate" is going to be particularly difficult

Horace

liggins wrote: »

I suppose looking for a specific role within an industry that is feeling the brunt of the "current climate" is going to be particularly difficult

I am not just looking at events thankfully, I am looking at secretarial, PA work, general admin, marketing, sales, cleaning, fruit picking, blogging, SEO, retail - again it is particularly difficult jobs are very few and far between.

I have things against me: I have been self employed for the last 2.5 years, I am 50 (therefore classed as too old) and have a disability. Still, I am determined to find something.

pompeyrich

Not sure if the local paper and the job centre are the most common method of advertising jobs these days. Most jobs will be found on-line, either through the company website or through recruitment agencies. CV Library was good as the agencies can see your CV and contact you directly with anything suitable.

I have things going for me I am 54 and therefore classed as experienced!!

DCFC79

There are jobs available in my area but depends what your after.