Joanne Deighan, Senior Commercial Manager, Belfast International Airport and Jaclyn Coulter, HR Director, Belfast International Airport

Belfast International Airport, member of the VINCI Airports network, is holding its first recruitment fair of 2026 to resource and support growth as it heads into a busy summer season.

The Recruitment Fair will take place on Saturday 31st January at Belfast’s Voco Hotel in the Gasworks area of Belfast from 11am to 3pm.

Teams from the Airport and associated partner companies including, Swissport, Wilson James, Mount Charles, Airport Taxi company, Pret and Mitie will be on hand to discuss roles, salaries and benefits and to support candidates through the application process.

More than 100 full time, part time and seasonal roles are currently available across areas such as ground handling, security, retail, driving and catering.

This recruitment drive supports the Airport’s £100million investment programme. Phase one, comprising the new security building, arrivals exit hall and duty-free experience has been completed.

The next phase is focused on the airside Departures by transforming the food and beverage offer and introducing a broader range of outlets to better serve passengers.

Jaclyn Coulter, Human Resources Manager at Belfast International Airport says: “In order to support our wider transformation programme our airport partners are looking for a wide variety of roles available with attractive salaries and benefits.

“The Airport offers an exciting work environment and there are plenty of options to carve out a long-term career path within the travel and aviation sector.”

Attendees are encouraged to come along on the day where staff and recruitment partners will be available to answer questions and provide guidance.

The Job Fair will take place on Saturday 31st January at Belfast’s Voco Hotel, Gasworks, Belfast from 11am to 3pm.

For more information on the jobs available please visit: www.belfastairport.com

Jaclyn Coulter, Human Resources Manager at Belfast International Airport announces the Job Fair.

Belfast International Airport, member of the VINCI Airports network, is holding a Spring Recruitment fair of 2025 ahead of the busy summer season.

The Recruitment Fair will take place on Saturday 5th April at The Rabbit Hotel,
Templepatrick from 11am to 3pm.

Teams from the Airport and associated partner companies including Swissport, Wilson
James, SSP and Aelia Duty Free will be on hand to guide attendees through the application
process as well discuss competitive salaries and related company benefits.

There are currently up to 100 vacancies available right across the site with a range of full
time, part time and seasonal roles. Positions on offer include ground handling, security,
retail, and catering.

The roles will support the current growth plans underway at Belfast International Airport.

Phase one, the new security building and arrivals exit hall, has been completed and is
operational with the next development phases underway which will transform the airport
experience.

Jaclyn Coulter, Human Resources Manager at Belfast International Airport says; “There are a wide variety of roles available with attractive salaries and benefits and many are also
flexible to suit lifestyle and other family commitments.

“The Airport offers an exciting work environment and there are plenty of options to carve
out a long-term career path within the travel and aviation sector.

“With the current investment programme underway, it’s a really exciting time to join our team and come along on this journey.”

Attendees should arrive on the day- staff and recruitment partners will be available for
questions and a chat about the roles.

The Job Fair will take place on Saturday 5 th April at The Rabbit Hotel, Templepatrick from 11am to 3pm.

For more information on the jobs available please visit www.belfastairport.com

Sam Dooley. Irish jobs.ie
Fennell Photography 2023

A new survey from leading hiring platform NIJobs has revealed that almost half of jobseekers said they would refuse a job offer if they had a bad interview or a negative hiring experience.

The insights come as the unemployment rate in NI reached a new record low of 2%, shining a light on the competition for talent experienced by local employers.

Over 930 jobseekers took part in the research, which identifies a number of areas and red flags people tend to look out for during the recruitment process.

Key dealbreakers included a negative impression during the interview (27%) and a poor experience during the hiring process (19%), meaning almost half of jobseekers (46%) would turn down an offer of employment if they weren’t happy with how they were treated by a recruiter.

A further 12% of those questioned said that zero flexibility around remote or hybrid options would make them reconsider the job offer, with 60% preferring a mix of office and home working.

A majority of respondents (66%) also indicated that they are allowed to choose the days they work in the office with their current employer.

Salary remains the most important factor when looking for a new role, with 72% researching average pay before applying and 60% happy to negotiate salary and benefits with potential employers.

Sam Dooley – the Country Director of The Stepstone Group Ireland, with responsibility for NIJobs –says: “The local job market is performing well and this new research on what jobseekers expect from employers should help inform businesses from a recruitment perspective.

“There is significant competition for talent across a range of industries. The new record low in unemployment highlights the recruitment challenges many employers face.

“Local businesses should realise from the outset that providing a positive candidate experience is now a requirement of their recruitment processes. Otherwise, they run the risk of candidates going elsewhere. While you are interviewing someone for a role, they are also assessing whether your workplace is the right fit for them.

“Our survey also highlights the importance of a positive office environment, culture, flexibility, and salary expectations for NI jobseekers which underscores the importance of a strong employer brand and also focuses attention on the need for employers to regularly assess their employment offerings.”

The survey’s findings are supported further by analysing the Q2 hiring data in the latest Job Report from NIJobs in partnership with Ulster Bank. It tracks hiring trends and the type of jobs people are looking for alongside the current economic backdrop.

During the first half of the year there has been a pick-up in business activity, with this evident within recruitment. Following a notable slowdown in hiring intentions at the end of last year, the number of advertised vacancies has increased steadily. Job listings on NIJobs rose by almost 9% quarter-on-quarter during the three months to June, with the total number of vacancies hitting its highest level in three quarters.

Ulster Bank’s Chief Economist, Richard Ramsey said: “Over two-thirds of the 39 employment categories reported an increase in listings in Q2 of 2024 relative to the first three months of 2024. Meanwhile, 15 of the 39 employment categories had more vacancies relative to the same period a year ago.

“The latest Q2 data sees further change in the top five employment categories, with listings for management positions exceeding all other categories.  Sales and skilled trades were ranked second and third, respectively, with the former hitting a series high. Social care and catering vacancies were ranked fourth and fifth.”

He continued: “The number of advertised vacancies remains significantly above pre-Covid-19 levels; job listings in Q2 of 2024 were 27% above the figure recorded in the corresponding quarter five years ago.

“And following the General Election, businesses and households will be eagerly waiting to see the new Labour government’s policies in action.

“How this affects households, workers and employers will impact on the labour market in due course.”

Categories with the most significant rises in vacancies relative to pre-pandemic are:

• Cleaning +289%

• Retail +141%

• Construction +86%

• Manufacturing +75%

• Skilled Trades +67%

• Logistics +51%

• Management +43%

• Engineering +40%.

The Job Report from NIJobs with Ulster Bank, signals a moderation in recruitment activity during the second quarter of the year following the unprecedented highs of recent years. Listings are steady, dropping slightly by 1% in Q2 2023 compared to the previous quarter.

Alongside the Job Report, NIJobs commissioned research on attitudes and preferences to job seeking in Northern Ireland.

The research revealed that 30% of people are actively looking for a new job with respondents ranking Higher salary (21%), Improve work-life balance (9%) and Improve skills (8%) as their top motivators when looking for a new role.

The top two preferences remain unchanged from the previous quarter, signalling that the cost-of-living crisis continues to have a strong impact on job applicants.

The level of recruitment activity in the latest quarter still exceeds anything that occurred prior to the pandemic and was 38% above the corresponding quarter in 2019.

Overall, 35 out of the 38 categories have higher levels of recruitment activity in the second quarter of 2023 than they had in the corresponding quarter in 2019 (pre-pandemic).

Many of the big employer categories such as Health and Catering are below their pandemic peaks but are still significantly above the level of vacancies that pre-dated Covid-19.

Other sectors still outperforming pre-pandemic levels worth noting include Construction, Cleaning, Retail, Engineering and Manufacturing.

The independent research commissioned by NIJobs is enhanced further by a Jobseeker Snapshot Survey with around 800 people examining trends and motivation in the local market.

Snapshot Survey Key takeaways

• 49% of jobseekers are optimistic about the job market in Northern Ireland
• 76% are more likely to apply for a position that explicitly outlines the company’s policy on hybrid working
• Health insurance and extra annual leave are the preferred benefits when applying for a role
• 65% would feel comfortable discussing benefits/ salary if it didn’t meet their expectations
• Hybrid working (33%), and flexible working (37%) remain the most suitable options for NI employees

Orla Moran, Managing Director of NIJobs and Stepstone Ireland commented on the latest report: “Our data from the Jobs Report indicates recruitment levels are healthy with roles available across many employment categories. Businesses continue to invest in talent although recent NISRA figures suggest a slight drop in employees on company payrolls.

“Confidence around recruitment is bolstered with independent NIJobs research revealing that 30% of those interviewed are actively looking for new roles. There is an air of optimism amongst jobseekers keen to progress their career. If we delve a little further into this research, the main motivation for job hunting is a higher salary, followed by improving work-life balance and enhancing skills. The continued focus on work-life-balance, in spite of ongoing inflationary pressures, demonstrates that jobseekers are also looking beyond financial considerations when considering a job move.

“In our twice-yearly Jobseeker Snapshot Survey, we got the views of 800 jobseekers who use the platform regularly to examine trends around motivation and sentiment within the NI market. Almost 50% remain optimistic about the market which correlates with business confidence as they continue to recruit.

“We know that the cost of living is prompting employees to push for higher salaries, but more than half of our jobseekers don’t believe their current salary reflects their skills, qualifications, or levels of experience. Interestingly, 55% of the people we surveyed say they have received a pay rise in the last year, which would indicate that employers understand the importance of retaining talent and boosting employee confidence and productivity against a challenging backdrop of sky-high inflation rates.

“One thing that should resonate with recruiters is the need to be explicit about their hybrid working policies. 76% of jobseekers told us they would be more likely to apply for a position if the job posting contained clear information about how they are expected to work. ”

The quarterly data and job listings from NIJobs are viewed as a leading indicator of labour market performance, giving insight into recruitment trends, the economic environment and the types of roles job seekers are searching for online. 

Ulster Bank’s Chief Economist Richard Ramsey adds further insight to the Q2 data; “The strength of the local labour market has defied expectations for the last few years. So far 2023 has witnessed further record highs in employment, and unemployment is tracking close to its historic lows. However there have been some signs that labour demand is softening. For example, HMRC payrolls fell in April and June from what now looks like an employment peak in March. Meanwhile June saw the highest number of proposed redundancies since the first lockdown three years ago and the third highest monthly total in 23 years. Budgetary difficulties within the public sector are likely to put increasing pressure on staffing levels. This will also impact on those companies reliant on public expenditure / procurement in due course. In the meantime, Ulster Bank’s Northern Ireland PMI signalled that robust rates of hiring have continued during the second quarter.

“For NIJobs once again, the moderation in recruitment activity was broad-based with 18 of the 39 categories recording a quarterly decline in job vacancies in Q2 2023. Interestingly, however, all but three of the 38 categories still have higher levels of recruitment activity in the second quarter of 2023 than they had in the corresponding quarter in 2019 (pre-pandemic). Three exceptions are IT (-2%), Education (-33%) and Sales (-14%). Nevertheless, IT still accounted for the largest share of overall vacancies (7.5%), just ahead of Management, Skilled Trades and Catering. The latter three categories all accounted for over 7% of total vacancies.  

“Three employment categories recorded their highest number of vacancies to date.  These were Construction, Customer Service and Arts & Entertainment. Despite falling demand, construction firms are still recruiting hard to fill longstanding vacancies. 

“The number of construction vacancies in the second quarter of 2023 was double that of the corresponding period in 2019.

“Skilled Trades listings remained close to its series high in Q2 2022 and the level of vacancies is 73% above pre-pandemic levels.

“Skilled trades are now the third largest category for job vacancies.”

Leading food retailer The Food Warehouse, which is part of the Iceland Foods Group, has announced the creation of up to 40 new jobs in West Belfast as part of a wider £1.4m investment.

Situated in Westwood Retail Park, this will be the brand’s second supermarket store offering in Northern Ireland. Iceland and The Food Warehouse stores employ over 800 colleagues here.

The Food Warehouse launched its big pack brand in 2014 and its retail footprint has grown rapidly to over 150 stores across the UK and Ireland, making it the fastest growing supermarket chain in the UK this century. 

The new store will occupy a 16,300 sq.ft double unit in the retail park and will offer shoppers all the same great product lines they can find in Iceland stores, but with the ability to buy in bulk, without membership and take advantage of some fantastic savings. 

Ron Metcalfe, Managing Director of The Food Warehouse Ireland said: “Following the success of our launch into the Northern Ireland market with the first Food Warehouse in 2020, we’re thrilled to be opening our second store here at Westwood Retail Park in West Belfast.

“Throughout the pandemic and its subsequent recovery, we’ve seen strong demand in a very competitive market, and we believe that shoppers will welcome the innovative offering at our new store, particularly in a challenging economic environment with the current cost of living crisis.”

Customers can shop from more than 3,000 product lines, including fresh, frozen, and ambient produce as well as homeware items. The store will be directly supporting local business, with hundreds of products coming from local suppliers, including Mash Direct, Dalefarm, Irwins, Britvic and Tayto. Several exclusive brands such as Slimming World, TGI Fridays, Greggs, Harry Ramsden are also available. The store is famous for its bigger packs at great value alongside a number of deals such as the exclusive ‘When it’s Gone, it’s Gone’. 

Mr Metcalfe continued: “Trading conditions for small businesses are increasingly challenging, with margins being stretched, we believe that local businesses and the general public will benefit from our bulk offering, which offers savings on a wide range of favourite brands at unbeatable prices.

“We are committed to offering a new shopping experience for everyone as well as strengthening relationships further with local Northern Irish suppliers.

“I’d also like to welcome old and new customers from the local community as well as our new colleagues who will be working in the store.” 

Store Manager, Paul McTasney added; “This investment into West Belfast demonstrates the company’s commitment and growth in Northern Ireland. I’m very excited to officially open the store for business and welcome all of our new customers.”

The new Food Warehouse store opens at Westwood Retail Park on Tuesday 11^th October at 8am.

Shoppers will receive exclusive launch offers as well as a £1,000 giveaway for the first 100 customers through the door, 200 goodie bags for the first 200 customers and a trolley dash where three lucky winners can grab all their favourite brands in a 90 second challenge.

For more information on The Food Warehouse, visit www.thefoodwarehouse.com/corporate

Ten charities working in Northern Ireland have received a share of £55,561 through the Allen & Overy Foundation, which is funded by contributions from A&O partners worldwide.

The annual funding initiative is managed locally by the Belfast Grants Committee, which administers support to a range of charities that promote access to justice or support and develop education or employment projects across Northern Ireland. 

A record number of applications were submitted this year to the Allen & Overy Foundation. Ten were selected to receive a share of the funding package including two successful Belfast-based organisations – The Turnaround Project and Cara-Friend.

Commenting on the popular initiative Simon Wagstaff, Associate Director, Technology Services at A&O Belfast and Chair of the Belfast Grants Committee said; “We had a total of 27 applications this year, which has been the highest number of submissions to date.

“We were impressed by the important work being delivered to support local communities and individuals. Giving back to others through funding, reciprocal volunteering or pro bono opportunities is an important part of the firm’s ongoing commitment and investment in the local marketplace.

“We recognise that many organisations face a challenging winter ahead with rising inflation and running costs so we hope that the Allen & Overy Foundation’s support will help alleviate some concerns around programme delivery at a grass roots level.”

The Turnaround Project, based in South Belfast, received £7,328 to provide strength-based coaching to support people moving into new mainstream employment. 

The Turnaround Project runs social enterprises to provide transitional employment opportunities for people leaving the justice system.

Director of The Turnaround Project Richard Good said: “For people leaving the justice system, employment can be hard to find and difficult to sustain.  As well as providing transitional job opportunities to prepare people for conventional employment, Turnaround offers individual coaching support to help people identify their own strengths and how they can use them to overcome the barriers and challenges they face.  

“As our social enterprises continue to grow, we are providing more people with employment and other support.  We are also supporting more people who have moved on into conventional employment.  So, the grant from the Allen & Overy Foundation comes at a critical point, and we are delighted that it will enable us to expand our coaching support to match that growth, offering it to more people and for longer periods.”

Cara-Friend has been supporting and empowering the LGBTQI+ community in Northern Ireland since 1974. It provides a range of regional youth services, one-to-one support for individuals, awareness training for professionals and volunteers, community development programmes, a helpline service, an inclusive schools programme alongside policy, advocacy, and campaign initiatives.

The charity will use £5,000 from the Allen & Overy Foundation to provide access to mental health and mindfulness support for secondary level pupils.

John Kivlahan, Fundraising & Development Manager from Cara-Friend added; “Cara-Friend’s LGBTQI+ Inclusive Schools’ Charter is continuing to work with a range of schools across Northern Ireland – inspiring many to ensure they are safe, inclusive, and welcoming spaces for all pupils, but particularly those young people identifying as LGBTQI+.

“This project is funded through the generosity of local businesses such as Allen & Overy. This is the second time Allen & Overy has supported the Schools’ Charter programme and with an uplift in their support this year, Cara-Friend will introduce mental health and well-being support to pupils and teachers, before crisis intervention is required.”

The ten organisations receiving funding include Young Enterprise NI, The Brilliant Club, The Turnaround Project, Ashton Community Trust, Cara-Friend, Extern, Ulster University, the Human Rights Consortium, the Children’s Law Centre and Kinship Care NI.

Allen & Overy’s Belfast office opened in 2011. It is the second largest office in the A&O network by headcount, employing over 600 people.

It includes a Support Services Centre which delivers business services – Document & Design, Finance, Human Resources, IT, Library & Information and Marketing & Business Development – to the firm’s global network.

Through the Advanced Delivery Legal function, Allen & Overy Belfast is also at the forefront of delivering legal services to clients in new and flexible ways, with proportionate lower-cost, tech enabled resourcing and end-to-end managed legal services.

FOUR STAR PIZZA’S new CEO Colin Hughes has revealed plans to open 45 new stores and create 900 new jobs on the island of Ireland over the next three years.

The Irish-owned pizza chain, established in 1986, currently operates 42 outlets in the Republic of Ireland and 14 in Northern Ireland but Hughes, and a new senior management team, have set their sights on bringing the total number of FSP stores to more than 100 by 2025.

With a wealth of senior executive experience for a host of major hospitality-based companies, Lurgan-born Hughes took over the role of CEO for Four Star Pizza (Ireland) in January this year. 

Following a root-and-branch review of Four Star’s business, he has identified several areas for growth, setting a target to open an additional 27 stores in the Republic and a further 18 in the North. 

The proposed timeframe for this expansion includes the opening of four new stores this year with a further 16 in 2023 and 25 more in 2024.

An average of 20 jobs per store will see the company create a total of 900+ new jobs during this period.

“It’s been an extremely busy, but very productive, first few months in the job,” explained Colin.  “Our ultimate goal is for virtually everyone in Ireland, north and south, to have access to a local Four Star Pizza outlet, and the road to achieving that has already started.

“As purse strings tighten across the country, the convenience, affordability and value for money that Four Star Pizza provides, without compromising on quality, has provided a platform from which we can expand to satisfy increasing demand from our loyal and ever-growing customer base. 

“From the outset, my priority was to carry out a full review of the business and speak to each and every one of our valued franchisees, who have been amazing in helping me understand the many facets and challenges of running one of the country’s biggest franchisee networks.

“Add the current situation in Ukraine and a cost-of-living crisis into the mix and, as far as the wider business environment goes, we’re currently in the midst of a perfect storm but the frontline feedback from our franchisee base remains positive with sales volumes and average transaction spends holding up well.   

“The good news, from a Four Star Pizza point of view, is that we are operating from a position of strength, having just enjoyed our best year to date in 2021*, and having carried out a data-driven location analysis of our business, I am very excited at the potential to grow the business across many areas, not least geographically,” he added.

Aside from company expansion, Hughes has targeted a number of other areas to accelerate Four Star’s forward momentum and continue improving the quality of its products and services to customers.

These include a focus on franchisee training, quality control, menu improvements, new product development and innovation, brand refreshment, store refurbishments, delivery options, enhancing the company’s digital proposition and – crucially – securing all-important supply chains which have been significantly impacted by global events. 

“Whilst we are excited by our growth plans, we’re under no illusions that the road ahead will not be easy, as we continue to operate in the most challenging of business environments,” continued Colin.

“Global supply chains are under pressure and, while consumer demand remains strong, the impact of Covid-19, Brexit and the war in Eastern Europe continues to impact on supply chains.  Recruitment, especially in the hospitality industry, is very difficult, freight markets are unbalanced, and price inflation is increasing all the time.

“One of the most important aspects of my role to date has been to review our supply chains and work with our key suppliers to ensure continuity of supply across all products, including flour, cheese, proteins and packaging. 

“There’s no point in creating demand if you’re not in a position to meet it, so that has been a priority for us and we are now well positioned to move ahead with our expansion plans.”

Currently the company is engaged in a proactive campaign to identify new store locations and recruit potential franchisees. 

According to Colin Hughes, interested parties do not need any previous pizza experience as Four Star Pizza will provide all the necessary training in food preparation, accounts, customer service, delivery and marketing.

“We’re on the hunt for any potential entrepreneurs with a good business brain to consider joining our growing network and becoming part of a progressive company with a very strong brand,” continued Hughes.

“In just a few months you could own a brand new business, built around a highly successful model and with all the support you need from a team of business experts to help you to recruit, manage, grow and thrive in your chosen town or city,” he added.

“Becoming a Four Star Pizza franchisee requires a lot of commitment but we are here to help and we offer an extensive training programme to enable franchisees to reach the required levels in terms of operations, marketing and customer service. 

“Even if someone is currently running another franchise but is thinking of a change, we would encourage them to get in touch to hear about our exciting plans,“ concluded Colin.

Anyone interested in finding out more about becoming a Four Star Pizza franchisee can do so on https://fourstarpizza.co.uk/franchisee-opportunity/ or by sending an introductory email to info@fourstarpizza.ie, or calling the company on 00353 1 7037300. 

Four Star Pizza is Ireland’s biggest indigenous pizza company. It opened its first store in Crumlin, Dublin, in 1986, and its first Northern Ireland store on Belfast’s Beersbridge Road in 1999.  Now the company employs more than 1,000 people across its 56 stores on the island of Ireland, including 14 in Northern Ireland.

* 2021 was a record year for Four Star Pizza in Ireland with a year-on-year sales increase of 21.5%, driven largely by a jump of 25% in online orders made via the company’s own website and app.  Own Channel online orders now account for almost 42% per cent of all sales. Four Star Pizza’s ‘Rewards’ loyalty programme also played a significant role in driving sales with a massive 60% redemption rate in loyalty points across its extensive 300,000+ membership.

Figures from the latest ‘NIJobs Job Report with Ulster Bank’ indicate a stabilisation in the local job market, with the demand for skills and roles remaining at an all-time high across some sectors.

The report’s insights into hiring market trends are further amplified by a Jobseeker Sentiment Survey, which indicates that concerns over the cost of living are prompting many workers to consider a job move in the coming months.

Listings on the hiring platform rose by almost 1% in the latest quarter (Q2 2022). While the number was 14% below last year’s record high, it still marked the best ever Q2 for vacancies.

Job listings in the latest quarter were 67% above the corresponding pre-pandemic quarter (Q2 2019) and over five times the lockdown low of Q2 2020.

The top five employment categories account for 42% of all vacancies on the hiring platform. Four of these – IT, Hospitality, Accountancy & Finance, and Sales – continued to record robust levels of hiring significantly above pre-Covid levels.

The Hospitality sector saw a 20% quarter-on-quarter increase in job openings in Q2 2022. IT, the top employment category before the pandemic began, has witnessed its best five quarters to date.  IT jobs still account for 1 in 11 of all listings.

Sam McIlveen, General Manager at NIJobs.com, says, “Our latest Job Report shows that while the recruitment surge has eased back, the number of job openings remains consistently high. Many employment categories, such as IT, continue to lead the way. The investment of global players reflects the local talent we have available in Northern Ireland. Companies are offering a wide selection of roles, with opportunities at every level, so it is undoubtedly an employee’s market.

“With a large number of roles on offer, we surveyed over 1,000 jobseekers to examine trends around motivation and sentiment in the local market. It is no surprise that increases in inflation and the cost of living means that many are evaluating the steps they can take to ease financial pressures. Almost 90% of those interviewed said that the cost of living is making them consider a job move, with three quarters planning a job move within the next six months. At the moment, we are experiencing vigorous job seeker activity with job applications above where they were this time last year. 

“It is positive news for the local market as the number of job openings won’t slow anytime soon; however, employers must give careful consideration to the current climate when competing for talent. 

“The cost of living crisis is having a negative impact on employees’ wellbeing, and rising business costs for employers may mean that above-inflation pay rises are not always an option. There are other benefits that can attract and retain your workforce if you are trying to tackle the cost of living.

“Our survey indicated that transport is often the biggest expense so companies may wish to subsidise this in a small way. Offering financial planning support, contributions to pensions and life/health insurance and making flexible working a key part of the role could help offset additional costs for employees.”

The job seeker survey also revealed:

• Salary is the most important thing when it comes to looking for a new job, followed by flexible working
• 85% consider perks and benefits when looking for a new job, with additional annual leave the most attractive benefit
• Only a third of people say that working in the office is their preferred way of working 
• 86% say they would apply for a job faster if it contained information about hybrid working
• 67% say that returning to the office has/will increase the cost of living
• 54% believe they are equally as productive with hybrid working
• 76% say hybrid working is a factor in managing the cost of living. 

The quarterly data and job listings from NIJobs.com are viewed as a leading indicator of labour market performance, giving insight into recruitment trends, the economic environment and the types of roles job seekers are searching for online. 

Richard Ramsey, Ulster Bank’s Chief Economist, says analysis shows that Northern Ireland’s labour market continues to churn out positive headlines.

“Almost 60% of NIJobs.com employment categories (18 out of 31) actually saw more positions advertised in the latest quarter than in Q1 2022. The three sectors that saw the largest numerical gains in the latest quarter were: Hospitality, Legal and Education, Childcare & Training.

“Meanwhile, the sectors that reported the largest numerical gains in job openings in Q2 were Nursing, Healthcare & Medical; Social, Charity & Not for Profit; and Secretarial & Admin.  

“Eight of the thirty-one employment categories posted their highest number of job openings to date in Q2 2022. These included: 

• Construction, Architecture & Property
• Graduate & Apprentice
• HR
• Legal
• Marketing
• Motoring
• Tourism, Travel and Airlines
• Production, Manufacturing, and Materials

“The most significant employer of the aforementioned is the Production, Manufacturing, and Materials category accounting for almost 1 in 20 of all vacancies – the eighth highest employment category. Northern Ireland’s manufacturing sector has outperformed its counterparts in Great Britain, with the NI Protocol cited as one important tailwind behind the robust output and employment performance. For example, Northern Ireland’s manufacturing employment stood at a 19-year high in March 2022.  This continues to be reflected in the record number of job openings in Q2 2022.

“Nursing, Healthcare & Medical was only ranked thirteenth for the number of job listings before the pandemic (Q2 2019). Since COVID-19 arrived on the scene, however, the employment category has been ranked number one for the number of advertised vacancies.  One in seven of all of the job vacancies advertised on the NIJobs.com platform fell under the Nursing, Healthcare & Medical category. This is well down on the peak of 1 in 4 of all vacancies in Q1 2021 and highlights some level of success in filling positions over the last twelve months. 

“So Q2 / Q3’s labour market could be as good as it gets.  A deterioration in the labour market and higher unemployment are invariably viewed as a bad thing. However, this is not necessarily the case. An economic slowdown and a modest increase in unemployment should help to alleviate some of the problems local employers face in the current red-hot labour market, such as skills shortages and wage pressures. A fresh wave of Covid infections has added to these ongoing staffing pressures alongside the threat of industrial action.  

“Given that CPI inflation is running at a 40-year high, wage rates rather than unemployment rates are receiving more focus than normal.   Northern Ireland’s median pay for employees increased by 6.6% y/y in May, a significant increase but well below the current CPI rate of 9% y/y.

“The gap between inflation and average earnings is expected to widen, reflecting the cost-of-living squeeze, and this doesn’t factor in the reduction in after tax earnings following the recent increase in National Insurance Contributions. 

“Unlike previous recessions, talk of widespread job losses and significant rises in unemployment is conspicuous by its absence. Instead, the cost-of-living squeeze trumps fears of a recession / higher unemployment.

“Normally, during times of recession, the negotiating power of employees is weak.  Not so this time around, with widespread skills shortages shifting the balance of power towards employees rather than employers.

“This has resulted increasingly in threats of industrial action but little in the way of strikes so far.

“Against this backdrop, the war on talent means many firms are engaged in an arms race of pay increases and benefits improvements to attract and retain staff. Flexible working continues to be one incentive within the wider arsenal offered by leading employers.  

“Despite talk of a looming recession and a cost-of-living crisis, as far as job openings are concerned – employees have never had it so good.”

COLIN HUGHES has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Irish-owned pizza chain Four Star Pizza.

Operating out of the company’s headquarters in Dublin, Colin will be responsible for the successful leadership and strategic direction of the Four Star Pizza brand, overseeing all of the chain’s operations and developing and implementing business plans to maintain and grow its overall performance in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Colin’s CV demonstrates a wealth of experience, having previously held senior executive positions for numerous hospitality-based companies including Subway, Pret a Manger, and Barburrito, as well as Marks & Spencer and Wyevale Garden Centres.

A graduate of Queen’s University Belfast with a prize-winning Executive MBA from Cranfield University School of Management, Colin is looking forward to his new role at the helm of Ireland’s biggest indigenous pizza company.

“I am absolutely delighted to be joining the Four Star Pizza business at such an exciting time,” said Colin, who hails from Lurgan in Co Armagh.

“This is a terrific opportunity to lead the brand to greater things and we have ambitious growth plans to make this happen.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting new colleagues and working together to support and deliver for our franchisees and customers,” he added.

Four Star Pizza Ireland opened its first store in Crumlin, Dublin, in 1986, and its first Northern Ireland outlet in Belfast in 1999. 

Now the company employs more than 1,000 people across 60 stores on the island of Ireland, including 15 in Northern Ireland.

Almost three quarters (68%) of employees across Northern Ireland say that the last year has made them reassess their career, according to a new survey released by NIJobs.com.

The fallout from Covid-19 alongside its potential long-term impact has created a significant shift in attitude towards careers and returning to the workplace.

The survey analysed data from over 1200 people and covered a range of themes including upskilling, hybrid working, job motivation factors and job seeking over the next year.

The survey demonstrated that despite an uncertain year, more than half of respondents intend to retrain or upskill to further career progression. 68% also said that covid has changed their career priorities, with flexible working now more important to them than job security.

Interestingly, the desire for a more flexible work model has not replaced the two top motivators to change job with career progression in first spot followed by salary increase in second.

Sam McIlveen, General Manager at NIJobs.com comments on the insight: “The last year has impacted livelihoods, the economy and many local business sectors. It comes as no surprise that the pandemic has made people reassess priorities in getting the right work/ life balance as we emerge out of lockdown.

“Jobseekers are considering how and where they work and what they want from a potential employer.

“Our recent Job Report revealed a surge in hiring across NI as restrictions lifted. Just under half (49%) of our respondents said they would move jobs if the right role came along.

“That is clearly an interest in moving jobs that has been suppressed by the pandemic.

Employers should re-examine their employment offerings, making their job specifications and company information easily digestible and accessible, so they don’t miss out on hiring the right candidate.”

Many businesses are finalising their return to workplace policies and the survey demonstrates a noticeable shift in how employees want to work, with 71% expecting employers to offer remote working or a hybrid model as an option.

“There is a new mindset from employees who have experienced the benefits of working from home over the last 15 months.

“It gives greater flexibility, can improve mental health, and can even save a lot of hard earned money on the daily commute, which all work hand in hand to increase overall job satisfaction.

“The demand is there for a new approach to the office environment so businesses must take this into consideration as they begin to implement a return to work policy.

“Flexible working can boost business benefits by helping to improve staff retention and also attract the best talent for any new roles.

“It’s important to remember that job specifications employers would have advertised at the start of 2020 may no longer attract talent given this shift in working preferences.”

The local recruitment sector has performed well in recent months with over 60% of NIJobs.com employment categories recording their highest number of vacancies to date. There have been more jobs advertised in the first six months of 2021 than in the whole of last year.

The pandemic initially predicted mass redundancies but now there are record numbers of vacancies. As the economy recovers further there is pent up demand for people who want to move jobs or change careers.

Sam adds: “If we look at the job market currently there are high numbers of vacancies offering many well paid, highly skilled roles across sectors.

“When furlough ends shortly, we will have a clearer idea of what is likely to happen in the coming months, but the market will still be fluid with plenty of movement.

“The survey shows that many employees plan to upskill before they assess their next step on the career ladder. This may also help address the current skills shortage that we are seeing in some sectors.

“This, coupled with the demand for flexible working means that now is an opportune time for employers get their offering just right so they can attract the perfect candidate to join their company.”