Increased Demand For Jobs Including Pilots And Postal Workers

A study of job adverts has revealed increased demand for authors, translators, postal workers, couriers, pilots and air traffic controllers.

In contrast, adverts have fallen for jobs including credit agents, archivists, conservators and curators and optometrists, according to recruiters.

The number of adverts last month totalled over 1.6 million, a 5.6% increase on February, said the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).

The study found a stronger than usual increase in sectors such as logistics, hospitality and some occupations in retail.

The report said the number of adverts was a positive signal for business confidence and summer hiring prospects and showed the relatively resilient initial response to the Gulf crisis.

REC chief executive Neil Carberry said: “Employers were clearly signalling that an upturn in hiring in the spring was likely at the turn of the year.

“Today’s report shows that improvement is happening despite some of the challenges the economy faces right now.

“Resolving the crisis in the Gulf would obviously make a major contribution to sustaining this cyclical upturn, but even without international progress the Government at home has options.

“Backing employers to invest by tackling the cost-of-employment crisis would be a great start, and reform of the guaranteed hours proposals into something practical and effective would be in the interest of workers and companies alike.”

Published: 24/04/2026 by Radio NewsHub