Is the job market really this difficult at the moment?

[beachstarfish]

I am on the look out for a new job. Have been looking for two whole months now. Had about 3 interviews maybe and all were pretty meh. Is the job market really that bad? I feel I always hear people say this... I am struggling to keep a high morale. Feeling really low at times. It's so deflating to my ego. Really need some thick skin for this game!

Yes, it’s horrific.

Depends what in? Crying out for probation staff.

Yes unemployment and job losses are up and vacancies are down in the UK. Last few months had quite sharp changes- worse than previously predicted.

Three interviews in two months is actually pretty good, probably better than most people have experienced. In my sector very skilled people have been out of work for a year or two, sometimes more.
Good luck with the next interview - hope it works out for youl.

Yes. One Civil Service is laying off thousands of staff. They recon at certain grades it'll be as high as 40% of staff over the next year. DHSC are doing 50% cuts.

When the Civil Service starts cutting jobs, you know there's an issue with the jobs market. Although naturally they'll do what they did in 2010-2012 (the last time they did huge redundancies) ...hire everyone back in 1-2 years as consultants at 4x salary

Yes private market is horrendous- ‘first come first serve interviews’ with someone in the private sector who doesn’t even think thru owe you their name.

In January 2026 a job for 12 months tenure paid slightly more toward 26k for that job for a year…
kissed many frogs in the dodgy private sector
before I’ve ended up in the nhs with a ‘permanent job’ but paying less.

I’d now be half way through the near 26k job tenature…and the worst thing 6 weeks later this disgusting local council actually made an advert for someone to take job perm on reception.

@BatshitIsTheOnlyExplanation thanks that is good to know it’s not likely to be something wrong with what I am doing. As it feels like i am putting so much effort into all of this with little results. It’s exhausting mentally

I was made redundant last month, well four year fixed term contract came to an end. I was expecting it to take a long time to find a new role but actually was offered two jobs within a couple of weeks, one only part time though and I will never be a high earner. I am also late ffties so was expecting I would likely need to retire earlier than planned. I guess if you are looking for a higher paid role in a niche area it is of course going to be harder. My ds graduates next month and I'm dreading how hard I feel it will be for him.

@Pickledonion1999 congratulations! Sometimes it is also about being at the right place at the right time. I can understand it must be nerve wrecking for your son. It is so hard for graduates with most employers needing previous work experience!

I’ve just been made redundant (well, still working my notice) and I’ve noticed there’s hardly anything. I’ve done some MH, Safeguarding and behaviour training. I now need experience and I can’t even get anything volunteering. I’ve emailed all the schools and not one has even acknowledged me☹️

This is the worst i have ever known it. Im a senior manager level and have worked in insurance, pensions, banking that kind of world for many years in customer service and sales departments. Usually if i fancy a change there is plenty of opportunities and inetrviews happen quick and im moving on!! Ive been looking since november.

Was offered one which I turned down as they told me at offer its 5 days in office (which i knew). But your expected to be in very early and leave very late to show commitment. So swerved that one.
After that I made it to last 2 for a role I really wanted
and on a third oportunity the company said they were pausing recruitment after completing 2 rounds!
The oppprtunities are low on the ground however and so the competition is fierce!

@StarDolphins are you looking to branch out into a new career path then?

@Bezziebev definitely a no to 5-day week in an office. Complete waste of time. Such a shame employers are now pushing for this. That is so annoying to have to pause on recruitment after all those rounds!

Job market seems to be quite difficult at the moment.
I work in a reasonably narrow field where permanent salaries are between 60k and 85k. Been doing it for over 15 years.
Not only are over 100 people applying per role, often within eight or ten hours of the role being posted, lots of extra skills have been added to the mandatory skillset list.
Artificial intelligence knowledge and experience being one of them.
6 months, and application for over 400 jobs later, and not getting anywhere.

its 3x as hard if you happen to be disabled. Lost count of the number of jobs I've been rejected from and I have lots of qualifications and experience. My disabilities are not the type that I can just leave off an application in order to get an interview as I need adjustments during recruitment as well as in employment.