Job market at the moment

[GonnaGetGoingReturns]

How’s everyone finding the job market at the moment?

I’ve been a contract PA (not by choice, want a permanent role) plus legal secretary for a few years.

Just got rejected out of 4 candidates for a PA role in a legal firm. I apply for a few perm roles but often it’s a no.

A friend of mine has worked for on a contract past 18 months to 2 years as PA but doesn’t like the company so isn’t sure if she’d like to work there permanently but feels like job market as it is, should she accept it if perm role were offered?

Another friend works in post room of a City company, her first perm job in a while, been working there over 2 years (before covid) but is being bullied and on a disciplinary for lateness.

People are clinging onto their jobs and not leaving.

So what gives?!

I've found it OK...

I manage absence in a big state secondary and also assist with data management and exams. I was looking recently at entry level HR roles hoping to retrain, but got rejected by all of them.

I'm fairly happy at work, so it isn't a big problem, but I'm surprised at no interview even for entry level roles where I'd be taking a pay cut. We were also recruiting recently and had a good number of good quality applicants. Last year we hardly got any qhen we advertised! These are for non teaching roles though. Still can't recruit teachers easily tbh

Edit: to add that I also was more or less handed a role I applied for before I realised some of the details! For example, the person interviewing on the phone was really bullish and unpleasant and asked personal questions about my childcare arrangements etc which was a red flag. It was also in a really difficult to get to area with no parking. So the jobs are there, they just aren't the ones I want!

IMO it's also linked to salary, office and colleague location.
I work with people based at various sites - UK + abroad. There's very little point going in to sit on my laptop all day! Which is what currently happens with our 2 day a week hybrid.
Also living in Greater Manchester trains to my current office (on the other side of Manchester, switch at Piccadilly) costs me £20 return! £7 if it's just to Manchester, somewhat more bearable.
If I worked in the city centre with a full team based on the same site I'd be happy to RTO, even 5 days a week.

@SilverGlitterBaubles This may not apply to you but in the current climate an office role should involve a considerable bump in salary especially in an expensive area like London. Admittedly, high rents + expensive train transport is more of a consideration for recent arrivals, and not those who bought comfortably a decade ago within tube/bus coverage areas.