Item 1 of 2 Workers travel through London Bridge rail and underground station during the morning rush hour in London, Britain, September 8, 2021. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo
LONDON, Oct 22 (Reuters) – Global employers reported a fall in white-collar vacancies in September, a survey showed on Tuesday citing factors including the upcoming election in the United States, uncertainty around tax rises in Britain and rising geopolitical tensions.
Recruitment consultancy Robert Walters’ new monthly Global Jobs Index showed global vacancies dropped by 5% last month from August.
Companies in Singapore, the United States, Britain, Australia, and Germany reported the biggest falls in vacancies, with firms citing low business confidence as a key factor.
In some European countries which typically experience a seasonal jump in vacancies in September, firms reported a more muted increase than in previous years.
“September’s decline in professional job roles globally is a departure from the usual surge of hiring activity we expect at this time of year, and is a direct reflection of the geopolitical tensions, economic outlooks, and industry-specific issues on the global jobs market,” said Toby Fowlston, chief executive of global talent solutions business at Robert Walters.
The survey was based responses from 500 firms across professional sectors including health, real estate and construction, and energy and utilities.
Fowlston said US firms were putting the brakes on hiring ahead of the Nov. 4 elections and potential policy shifts.
“The UK is experiencing increased uncertainty as businesses hold back on hiring in anticipation of the government’s budget announcement,” Fowlston added.
The survey showed that on a quarterly basis, vacancies were 19% higher in the July-September period compared to the three months before.
($1 = 0.7682 pounds)
Sign up here.
Reporting by Suban Abdulla
Editing by William Schomberg and William James
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab