Record one million job vacancies being advertised as business booms back after Covid

A RECORD one million job vacancies are now being advertised as business booms back after Covid.

And the number of people on payrolls has returned to above the level it was before the lockdown last March.

Meanwhile, firms are offering higher pay, more holiday and more flexibility in an attempt to try to woo workers.

Employers added a record 214,000 staff to payrolls last month.

The hugely positive figures are a boost for ministers as the furlough scheme ends within weeks — with thousands expected to start job-hunting.

As employees flock back to work, the Chancellor last night resisted pressure to carry on the temporary £20-a-week Universal Credit uplift, which Labour and others have demanded.

Rishi Sunak insisted: “Today’s statistics show our plan for jobs is working.

“As we continue to recover from the pandemic, our focus remains on creating opportunities and supporting people’s jobs.”

Earnings and pay are also up, the latest data revealed.

And the unemployment rate fell slightly by 183,000 to 4.6 per cent in the three months to July, despite the “pingdemic”.

Ruth Gregory, of Capital Economics, said: “The labour market slack is declining fast and labour shortages are contributing to faster underlying pay growth.”

Half of firms want to increase their workforce, according to Manpower.

One in four are boosting pay to try to fill vacancies, with others offering bonuses and more annual leave.