LONDON jobseekers have the toughest task in the country when it comes to finding work, with 32 people going for each job.


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That compares to a national average of ten people applying for each vacancy, according to a new survey from Totaljobs.com.

On the brighter side, there are more vacancies than last year. But that has created its own problems.

What seems to have happened is that the extra jobs available have encouraged people already in work to apply, along with the unemployed.

“This is increasing competition for those out of employment and increasingly pitching the desperate against the ambitious in a two speed jobs market,” said Totaljobs’ John Salt.

Meanwhile, at the top end of the London jobs market, there are not enough candidates, says another survey, this time from Ambition, a recruitment company.

Ambition forecast that by the autumn there will be more vacancies for finance executives than people to fill them, pushing up pay. Suitably qualified finance types have already seen their rates shoot up by 23% this year, according to Ambition.