Events job postings spike 172% ahead of Monday

The return of large-scale shows, sport and festivals has sent job postings in the events industry soaring toward pre-pandemic levels as England moves to step four of lockdown easing on Monday.

According to data from the world’s largest job site Indeed, postings for roles in the events industry were up 172% compared to this time last year and have risen 29% between May and July.

Postings still lagged 32% behind where they were in 2019, but if they continue to rise at the current pace could reach pre-pandemic levels by November.

Roles in the events sector being advertised on Indeed included event managers, visitor experience managers and event hosts at some of the UK’s major tourist attractions. Venues were also hiring stewards, security managers, ticket salespeople and audio-visual technical assistants as they scaled up their operations.

The last remaining sections of the economy to still be effectively closed will be able to reopen on 19 July in England, 7 August in Wales and 9 August in Scotland.

Searches for ‘steward’ jobs have risen 219% since last July, when postings were almost at their lowest point since the pandemic started. The biggest increase came in May this year, as crowds returned to sporting ‘test events’, and interest has continued to climb since.

Searches for nightclub jobs started growing in March, a few weeks after prime minister Boris Johnson first unveiled England’s roadmap to reopening, but dropped off when the June reopening was pushed back. Searches for those roles have since begun to climb again.

The return of crowds at events and entertainment venues may also partly explain the rebound in London job postings, which have finally returned to pre-pandemic levels, making the capital the last region in Britain to reach that milestone.

The number of food preparation and service roles being advertised in the capital has increased by 689% compared to this time last year. Hospitality and tourism roles have also risen by 70%, but this figure may be being held back by the lack of international tourism.

Jack Kennedy, UK economist at Indeed, said: “The full reopening of the economy across Britain spells good news for the events sector, which has spent much of the pandemic stuck in a deep freeze…

“Jobseekers have also leapt at the chance to start work in the sectors that have been all but closed since March 2020. Some workers may have switched to another industry while festivals were cancelled and sporting events were held behind closed doors, but are now flocking back to their previous roles as stewards and in nightclubs.”

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