There Are 1.5 Million Unemployed But Over 1 Million Job Vacancies.

[dave50]

Someone please explain this anomaly.

[Ken4155]

I remember when i was out of work during the early 80s. Many (if not most of the job vacancies in the local 'Joke Shop' read something like; "Age 18+, 5 years experience necessary"
Unless the 1 million vacancies are for 'attractive' positions, they are not all going to be filled.

[Deskdiary]

We’re under-resourced at the moment, adding pressure to staff, and the lack of CVs we’re getting is worrying, and those we do get generally aren’t suitable, but because candidates are aware there’s a shortage in my industry as a whole, they’re asking for a King’s ransom.

[AuntPG]

Candidates don't usually ask for their Salaries, do they? If you go for a job advertised at £40K a year you don't rock up asking for £50K do you?

[david small]

If they had to, they would work if it put food on the table and clothes on the kids back. The benefit cushion has had an effect of depleting necessity. Well intentioned, but ultimately and inevitably it will encourage certain advantages for the feckless.

[Deskdiary]

We always ask for salary expectation.

[barry1010]

I bet every single one of us knows at least two people deemed by the government as 'fit to work' but would not employ them.
Some people are unemployable in any capacity - because there is something 'off' about them, awkward, shifty, lack social skills - which is beyond their ability to rectify.

If I had to employ carers there is no way I employ anyone who was only applying for the job because they risked losing their benefits.

[barry1010]

My local supermarket is advertising for ten full time 'stock replenishers' - what was wrong with 'shelf stackers'?
Perfect job for a lot of people except there are two shifts available - 4 am start or midnight finish. No good for people who have childcare to worry about nor for people who rely on public transport unless they live within a short walking distance.

[fiveleaves]

If I lost my job tomorrow, I couldn't start work as an HGV driver the day after and that is kind of the problem

[bednobs]

are you seriously saying you apply for 40 jobs a week gromit? how the hell do you find time to work. thats over 5 job applications per day!

[ToraToraTora]

gromit: "I have applied for over 1000 jobs in the last 6 months, got one interview and didn’t get that job. I have over 40 years experience doing the work I am applying for. " - what is the work you are applying for?

[Deskdiary]

I was a shelf stacker at Safeways when I was a student.

I can honestly say it was the most fun I ever had in a job.

If I was in a financial position where I didn’t need to work, but wanted to do something to keep busy, I’d happily stack shelves again.

[Togo]

// what is the work you are applying for?//

Stand up comedian.

[bednobs]

it also seems fairly amazing to me that there are 1000+ vacancies in one industry in one area, and yet they still dont want someone with loads of experience. Perhaps it's your age gromit? some employers are put off by someone they think might retire soon

[Togo]

Most employers are not looking for candidates who constantly turn a deaf ear, a blind eye, and talk out of the sides of their mouth. Other orifices are available.

[Buenchico]

>>> If I was in a financial position where I didn’t need to work, but wanted to do something to keep busy, I’d happily stack shelves again

That's as long as you can actually get such work, Deskdiary. During my last period of unemployment I applied for shelf stacking jobs, checkout jobs, bar work, office work, van driving work and just about everything else that I thought that I might be able to do. Over 2000 job applications resulted in just 108 acknowledgements and three interviews.

My first interview was for a delivery-driver-cum-sales-rep job with Ginsters. The interview seemed to go well and I was invited to an unpaid work trial, where I worked from 5am to 6pm without any real breaks. (Van drivers were expected to eat their meals as they drove). The company then failed to contact me thereafter and ignored any further application for employment from me.

The second interview was for admin work (including plenty of unsocial hours) with a firm that leases vehicle to, and arranges servicing for, many big companies (such as Tesco). I was told that I'd fit in well and that I'd got the job subject to the final approval of the 'big boss' when he returned from holiday. When I failed to hear back from the firm though, I phoned them to ask what had happened, only to be told that the big boss had decided to reorganise the company and that there was no longer a vacancy (which they hadn't even had the courtesy to tell me about).

My third interview was for an admin job with a skip hire company, answering phone calls and booking work into the system. The interview seemed to go well and I was invited to do a day's unpaid work trial, during which I was also asked to help the boss sort out the firm's health and safety documentation. He was so pleased with the progress that I made with it that he asked me to go in for a second day (paid that time) to complete the task. At the end of that day he seemed enormously pleased. When I wrote to him a few weeks later though, saying that it was clear to me that I'd not got the job but asking for payment for the second day that I'd worked, he replied with an apology saying that he couldn't offer me the job as I was "too intelligent"!

None of the firms I applied to for shelf stacking work, etc, ever got back to me and I NEVER got a job before I reached pension age.

During the time that I was applying for all those jobs, I kept reading posts on AB from people stating that the long term unemployed could easily get work if only they looked for it. Grrr!

[Deskdiary]

Perhaps it is a geographical thing then Buenchico. I’m in the South East and my closest Saisnbury’s and Tesco are always advertising for jobs.

[Gromit]

15 years ago I was working 3 jobs at the same time. Not by choice, just because people wanted me.
So it is a bit annoying that I can't get a new job now.

[ToraToraTora]

what is your skill set gromit?

[Gromit]

Buenchico

I remember reading posts from you 6 or7 years ago before your medical problems and empathising with you.
We were in a similar position - years of experience, absolutely able to do the job, but they want to pay someone an apprentice wage of less than £8/hour, and we don’t get a look in.