Over 1.1 million jobs remain unfilled as the “pingdemic” crisis worsens the shortage of workers, a new report has warned.
According to job site Adzuna, there are almost 10,000 vacancies in supermarkets, alongside 31,000 retail vacancies, an increase of 14 per cent.
It also revealed there are 77,000 vacancies in hospitality and catering, 90,000 in trade and construction, and 84,000 in logistics and warehousing.
READ MORE: Iceland responds to ‘pingdemic’ with recruitment drive
“The pingdemic has hit just as businesses start to get to grips with filling open roles,” Adzuna co-founder Andrew Hunter said.
“The struggle to hire is one of the biggest challenges facing businesses, with hundreds of thousands of workers still on furlough, hesitation among others to go back to work, fewer overseas workers available to fill positions, and a lack of skilled staff in some sectors.
“The pingdemic has compounded these issues, as many jobseekers are forced to self-isolate over attending interviews or starting work.
“This is on top of absences from existing staff who have been pinged.”
Hunter concluded that it is a “critical moment for industries” like smaller independent shops, which are relying on the summer period to make up for lost income needed to keep their businesses afloat.
with PA Wires
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