A new shopping centre is due to open next year in Whiteley, near Portsmouth. Job seekers lined up outside the venue of a recruitment day put on by the shopping centre, in a bid to attract applicants to apply for one of the many jobs on offer. Over 4000 job seekers queued in the cold hoping to secure a new job at the shopping centre.

The recruitment fayre continued throughout the day and was inundated with people wanting to apply for some of the jobs available. The shopping centre will cost just under £85 million and will contain over 55 retail outlets, including Marks and Spencers. The sheer number of applicants attending the recruitment day emphasises just how difficult the UK’s current job market is.

Despite a reported economic growth, job seekers are increasingly facing a tough time, often with more than 100 people applying for any one job. Job seekers with a number of years experience are being unsuccessful in job applications due to the sheer number of people applying. The demand for jobs is only set to increase over the next few years, however employers are finding often applicants are simply not skilled enough for the advertised jobs, and are applying for anything in desperation. It was recently revealed that the number of people out of work in the Uk has grown to over 2.5 million. The South East area of the UK, which includes cities such as Portsmouth, has the second lowest unemployment rate. However, the area is still undoubtedly affected by the recession.

The recruitment fayre provided a great chance for job seekers to meet with employers directly and make a good first impression. Thousands of job seekers have shown interest in working at the shopping centre, with over 2000 people signing up to receive job alerts prior to the recruitment fayre. In total it is estimated that over 4000 applicants attended the day; a clear positive outcome for both employers and potential employees.