Statistics from CV-Library, the UK's leading independent job board, have today revealed that whilst 2015 has seen a significant rise in construction jobs, application rates have failed to maintain the same growth, reducing candidate choice for businesses.
Latest figures from the job site's database have highlighted that job postings in the construction sector have risen by 63% in the last year. Over 187,987 roles were posted in the last 12 months, compared to 115,290 in the same period the previous year, resulting in an extra 72,697 jobs in the sector.
The number of job hunters applying for roles in the sector also increased last year, seeing growth of 37.2%. However, these rates fall behind industry job growth, resulting in an overall deficit of 14.5% in terms of the number of applications per role.
This is concerning news for businesses. Whilst a construction company could expect to receive 15.9 candidates per role in May 2014, comparable data for May 2015 shows that this number has reduced to 13.6, meaning businesses have less choice during the selection process.
Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library, explains: “Our latest data demonstrates that businesses need to be savvier at attracting new talent to their organisations. With jobs on the rise, applicants can afford to be more selective in their job search. This, combined with concerns surrounding skills gaps, means construction businesses have a bigger challenge on their hands.”
In addition, the job site has noted a shift in the types of candidates registering their CVs, with a strong increase in labourers, which is currently the top role being sought in the sector this year.
The good news is CV-Library has over 628,000 job hunters seeking work in construction, meaning there are plenty of candidates available to fill roles.
Building Fast - Construction Jobs Rise 63%
However, Job Application Rates Fail to Maintain the Same Pace