Post-summertime blues expected to spark job-hunt surge

Despite July and August being quieter months for recruitment, UK agencies should be prepared for a surge in September, as over half (57.1%) of workers reveal that they are more likely to consider a new job as the summer comes to an end.

In fact, according to data from CV-Library, September 2015 saw a 13.2% increase in candidates registering their CVs, while job applications also soared by 7.5%. The job site’s latest research, suggests that the jump is expected to happen again this year, as many workers look to explore new opportunities as a result of the typical post-summer-blues.

Lee Biggins, Founder and Managing Director of CV-Library, commented: “We’re entering a traditionally busy time in recruitment, so it will be interesting to see how the job market favours, especially given recent concerns in the economy. Post-summer labour market activity always tends to improve, as more people return from their holidays. During this period last year, for example, we saw job creation rise by 17%, and we’re hopeful that we’ll witness a similar increase again this year.””

According to the research, 70.1% find it difficult to get back into a routine after a summer holiday, with nearly three-quarters (72.3%) admitting that it takes one to two days to adjust to work post-holiday. Other key findings from the study of over 2,200 UK workers include that over half (55.8%) think that workplace morale drops as the summer comes to an end; 86.9% said that it is an employer’s responsibility to keep morale up; however, 79.4% stated that their employer does not make allowances for ‘post-summer blues’.

Biggins continued: “It’s clear that the post-summer blues can get Brits down, with many struggling to readjust to the working day. Implementing a robust process that helps to ease people back into work post-holiday is extremely important. Our research tells us that employees feel much better if they have an update meeting on return, followed by time to catch up on emails and projects, as well as speaking with team members and having enough time to create a priority list. Ensuring you accommodate these needs can help workers feel more positive about their return to work after a summer break and may prevent employees looking for work elsewhere.””

CV-Library’s research found that workers find the following factors most difficult about returning to work after a summer break: getting up early (28.4%), getting back into a routine (25.1%), catching up on work (17.9%), catching up on emails (10.9%), staying motivated (8.5%) and dealing with work stress (5.8%).