Bristol job market bucks the Brexit trend with hiring up by 31%

Job growth in Bristol is booming despite Brexit uncertainty, with demand for talent up by 31% year-on-year. That is according to new data from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo).

The report, based on research by jobs market analyst, Vacancysoft, shows that the professional services sector is playing a significant part in driving this growth, with vacancies up by 77% since 2018.

This makes it the leading industry for hiring, accounting for 38% of the entire jobs market in the city. The financial services sector is also strong, recording a 15% increase in vacancies over the same time. This is in contrast to the trend witnessed in the capital. According to recruitment specialist, Morgan McKinley, financial services roles in London were down by 50% year-on-year.

In terms of the top companies for hiring in the area, Imperial Tobacco Group took the lead with vacancies up by 83%, followed by SNC-Lavalin Group Inc, which recorded job growth of 73%.

Commenting on the data, Julie Selby, Membership Relations Manager at APSCo said:

“Brexit, and the uncertainty of what the upcoming general election will bring, has made a number of cities across the country hold-off on hiring until there is more clarity, however, Bristol has bucked the trend, and continued to push through this difficult climate. It’s encouraging to see that job growth has increased and that key sectors, like financial services, are thriving.”

“It’s also great to see that the professional services sector is so strong, with international accountancy practices such as EY and KPMG having made Bristol a southern hub. Simmons & Simmons, another major player, is one of the latest firms to increase its presence in the city, by taking on 27,000 sqft of space in a new office. The legal firm made it clear that Bristol is central to its domestic practice in the UK, and revealed that it plans to grow the team to over 100 fee-earners in the coming months.”

“Bristol is set to be one of the UK’s fastest growing cities over the next three years, and it’s likely that hiring in the city will continue to remain strong.”

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