The number of candidates placed in business travel jobs jumped by a huge 1,387% compared with 2021 and by 174% from the pre-pandemic year of 2019, according to the latest figures from travel recruitment specialist C&M.
There was also a significant increase in salaries for new business travel jobs, which stood at an average of £30,241 in 2022, up by 2.47% from 2021 and up by 11.54% from 2019.
Overall, salaries for the average new job in travel jumped by a 11.53% in 2022 to stand at a record £30,617, according to the company’s 2022 Travel Salary Index.
The figure was up by 8.59% from the last pre-pandemic year of 2019 and was also up by 14.01% from 2018 and by 17.62% from 2017.
There was also a big jump in number of people placed in new travel jobs – 181% in 2022 to reach a near-record high.
Trailing only 2017 by just three per cent, 2022 stood above every other year since the index began in 2012.
Last year also set many monthly records including all-time highs for placements in the months of March, April, May, June, July and August.
Similarly, the number of new travel job vacancies was up by 96% in 2022 from the previous year and reached the second highest level since the index began.
Behind only 2017 by just three per cent, last year set monthly records for new vacancies in March, April and May.
Speaking about the stats, Barbara Kolosinska, Managing Director at C&M Travel Recruitment, said: “Whichever we look at it, 2022 was an historic year for travel recruitment. After suffering hugely as a result of the pandemic, we all needed 2022 to be a bumper year – and was it ever!
“Last year set numerous records for vacancies and job placements, with spring and summer 2022 being the busiest period for travel recruitment that we have ever seen in the past 25 years. Almost all companies in the travel industry searched for new employees last year and we’re seeing very few signs of this changing as we begin 2023.
“The last 12 months have also seen travel salaries rise to a record high with a huge 11.5% year-on-year jump. The shortage of talented candidates continues to be the biggest challenge, but with wages increasing and great new roles being created every day, the next year will hopefully be another extremely healthy one for travel recruitment.”
