Bottleneck Britain: turmoil has raised job vacancies and firms now jostle for staff

Analysis: labour market appears to have perked up with UK jobless rate at 4.7% but labour shortage traffic jam' could ease soon

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Chefs needed. Waiting staff required. Hotel porters, cleaners and front-of-house wanted, apply within. Walk down many high streets in Britain today and the picture is the same. Job vacancies have increased and employers are struggling to find staff.

This takes some explaining because the economy is still operating below its pre-crisis level. The total number of hours worked, as good a guide as any to the tightness of the labour market, is 5% lower than it was when the pandemic first arrived in the UK.