Travel firms increase starting salaries to lure more candidates
A shortage of candidates is leading to a rise in average salaries for new jobs in travel, according to recruitment agency C&M.
During the first half of the year, salaries for new positions went up 4.65% compared with the same period of last year to an average of £27,690, it said.
The average standard salary, for jobs paying up to £40,000, was up 1.5% to £24,817, however the rise in the north was much greater than in the south – up 6% compared with 2.9%.
At the same time, C&M said it has seen a big increase in executive placements – those roles paying £40,000 and above – which now account for 13% of all new roles compared with 8% in 2018.
However, there was a sharp fall during the first half of the year in both candidate numbers and job vacancies to levels last seen in 2016. The number of new jobs was down 11% year on year, while there were 25% fewer candidates.
C&M director Barbara Kolosinska said: "We’ve seen a big rise in salaries so far this year with the average new travel job now paying nearly 5% more than last year. That’s got to be hugely appealing to candidates and will hopefully lead many potential jobseekers to start considering the career possibilities that are out there.
"However, one of the reasons that wages have risen this year is because there continues to be a lack of quality candidates in the market and this is forcing some travel companies to improve their packages and offer higher salaries in order to get the best applicants."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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