The UK labour market is continuing its trend of an increase in job postings into the second quarter. With the total number of jobs increasing year-on-year by 9%, the outlook remains positive. Job website totaljobs.com conducted research analysing 5.9 million British jobseekers and 5,000 recruiters. While the number of jobs increased by 9%, the number of applications per job increased by 3% year-on-year. Not enjoying the trend were city jobs with the banking, insurance and finance sectors seeing a decline of 10% in jobs nationally. Jobseekers in these sectors are finding an increase in competition to land the job with applications per job up by 10%. Totaljobs director John Salt said: “Although not all sectors have enjoyed a Rise in jobs, today’s figures show that the overall national labour market is very positive.” The construction sector is hiring at the fastest rate since 1997 with a prominent rise of 43% stemming from an increase in house building. The property market is benefiting jobseekers in the property sector with a 10% rise year-on-year. Transport and logistics has a substantial increase in jobs with a 27% rise. However competition for the jobs appears to be tough with 21% rise in applications per job. Secretarial, PA and administration jobs enjoyed a rise of 18% with just a 4% increase in applications per job. Faring slightly better were customer service roles which experienced a 19% increase in jobs and a 5% increase in job applications. The largest increase in jobs was in the East Midlands with a 17% rise in job postings. Yorkshire came a close second with a 16% rise. Wales, the North-West, the North-East and East Anglia all saw the number of jobs increase by 12% year on year.