Graph illustrating the decline in banking job opportunities - Global Banking & Finance Review
This image depicts a graph showing the 10% decline in banking, finance, and insurance job opportunities. It highlights the fierce competition with rising applications per job, reflecting the current employment landscape discussed in the article.
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FALL IN CITY JOB OPPORTUNITIES AS BANKS CUT STAFF

Published by Gbaf News

Posted on July 11, 2014

2 min read

· Last updated: April 22, 2020

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10 per cent decline in banking, finance and insurance roles in the last year

10 per cent increase in applications per job

Significant Drop in City Finance Jobs

New figures released by the totaljobs.com Q2 2014 Barometer show a 10 per cent fall in jobs in banking, insurance and finance sectors in the past year to the same time and eight per cent compared to Q1 2014. The fall in opportunities in the sector is driving fierce competition, with applications per job up 10 per cent year-on-year and four per cent compared to Q1 2014.

UK Labour Market Shows Mixed Trends

Broadly, the Barometer indicates the UK labour market continues to improve with the number of jobs increasing by nine per cent year-on-year (YOY), and the number of applications for each job rising by three per cent year-on-year.

The totaljobs.com Barometer provides one of the most comprehensive representations of supply and demand in the UK job market analysing the behaviour of 5.9 million British jobseekers and 5,000 recruiters.  Importantly, the totaljobs.com Barometer reports three months ahead of official ONS statistics.

London Experiences Largest Decline in Sector

London has seen the sharpest decline in banking, insurance and finance job postings with a 17 per cent decline.

Expert Commentary on Sector Reductions

John Salt, director at totaljobs.com, said: “It’s disappointing to see the effects of banking, insurance and finance cuts, particularly when other sectors are starting to recover and hire again. With most major banks already announcing headcount cuts including Barclays, RBS and Lloyds, the fall in job opportunities in the sector will not come as a surprise for many.

“With fewer jobs on the market, many candidates are now looking at how they can use their skills in other sectors, or are undertaking training to widen their skillset. However, we hope this is a short decline in three of the UK’s most important sectors, and the market returns to jobs growth soon.”

Key Takeaways

  • Banking, finance and insurance job postings declined by 10% year-on-year and 8% from Q1 to Q2 2014.
  • Applications per job rose 10% year‑on‑year and 4% compared to Q1 2014, indicating heightened competition.
  • London experienced the steepest decline among regions, with a 17% drop in sector job postings.
  • Broad UK labour market showed resilience, with overall jobs up 9% year-on‑year and applications per job rising 3%.

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What sectors saw the most job declines?
Banking, finance and insurance sectors experienced the biggest job decline — a 10% fall year‑on‑year and 8% decline from Q1 2014.
How competitive is the job market now?
Applications per job in the banking, finance and insurance sector rose 10% year‑on‑year and 4% since Q1, indicating fiercer competition.
Which region was hardest hit?
London saw the sharpest fall in sector job postings, with a 17% decline in banking, insurance and finance roles.
Is the broader UK job market improving?
Yes — overall UK job postings rose 9% year‑on‑year, and applications per job increased by 3%, suggesting market-wide recovery.

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