We are now well and truly in to 2013 and have been consistently reminded over the past year how well (or not) the job market is performing. But what do the experts think? Paul Avon, Director at AP Executive discusses what he believes the outlook will be for the UK job market.

The jobs market has been turbulent, to say the least, over the past few years, however, last month statistics were released stating the number of people claiming unemployment benefits has dropped by over 20,000, but how has the bumpy past affected the recruitment process?

‘… Businesses have encountered headwinds over the past few years. The most significant of these has been the economic uncertainty the UK has faced, particularly in relation to the European crisis. Clients have frequently lacked confidence in further investment, and this has led to fewer new opportunities.’

If companies aren’t confident in their own ability to hold strong within the market this leaves candidates somewhat stuck in limbo, searching for job prospects that may take a long time to come to fruition.

‘This has [also] affected candidates’ receptiveness to new opportunities, with many adopting a cautious approach. The better candidates do their due diligence, and rightly so, before embarking on what is often a long and arduous interview process.’

Candidates are not the only one left cautious by the interview process, clients are now having to sift through hundreds more applicants, as there is more people than ever on the job market, to find the right person.

‘Often the process can take months, with endless interviews and even then it can be haltered at a moment’s notice as another crisis erupts and the client pauses to think.’

Paul Avon believes that the ‘family office segment’ has been the most resilient to the market fluctuations over the past few years, many of them sheltering the storm adequately, with their ability to adapt quickly and thrive in the tight market conditions.

Industries that have also held their own throughout the downfall are private clients such as, ‘accountants, tax, legal and trust professionals… private banking, investment, operations and [the] real estate world.’

With recent figures showing the number of candidates out of work dropping, and experts such as Paul confident that there are areas within the market that have shielded the storm, it is a ‘cautiously’ promising outlook for our future job search.

‘The mood amongst clients is one of cautious optimism, which heralds a brighter outlook over the next 12 months.’

Here’s hoping that Paul is right and we are set to see the silver lining.

If you wish to contact Paul to seek further advice on the UK job market, email him via his  LinkedIn.