THE NHS is by far Dorset's largest employer when it comes to the number of vacancies posted this year, it has been revealed.

Research by Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership puts the health service far ahead of the second largest advertiser of vacancies, BCP Council.

The information comes in the mid-year Labour Market Information Report from Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which also warns that Dorset is among the “most aged” areas in the UK, with “serious dependency and workforce issues”.

As previously reported, the study reveals there were a record 54,700 job vacancies in the county in the first half of this year, up 50 per cent on 2021.

The NHS accounted for 4,694 of those vacancies, while BCP Council advertised 781 and JP Morgan 513.

Bourne Leisure advertised 414 posts, Bournemouth University 368 and Holt Engineering 273 .

The other top employers included Colten Care (233 vacancies), Whitbread (226), Tesco (203), Dorset Council (186), Hall & Woodhouse (185), Vitality (180), Haven (179), Agincare (170) Care South (153) and the RNLI (148).

 

 

Dorset’s biggest employers by number of vacancies advertised in the first half of 2022:

National Health Service 4,694

BCP Council 781

JP Morgan 513

Bourne Leisure 414

Bournemouth University 368

Holt Engineering 273

Colten Care 233

Whitbread 226

Tesco 203

Dorset Council 186

Hall & Woodhosue 185

Vitality 180

Haven 179

Agincare Group 170

Care South 153

RNLI 148

Care UK 124

Co-Operative Group 113

Asda 112

Britannia Hotels 99

National Trust 97

 

“Carers and office assistants overtook nurses and software developers as jobs most in demand in Dorset, while customer service, chefs, cleaners and kitchen staff continue to be in demand over the first half of the year as the tourism and hospitality revival is further boosted by the favourable weather conditions,” the report said.

“Professionals such as project, account and financial managers, lawyers and accountants also remain highly sought after.”

The biggest growth in vacancies was in the care sector, where demand for labour has increased by more than 540 per cent in a decade.

The report says population growth in the BCP Council area has exceeded expectations, but in the Dorset Council area it has declined.

“With 30 per cent of residents in retirement age and fewer working age people, Dorset is among the most aged local authority areas in the UK with serious dependency and workforce issues deepening over time,” the report said.

The report also revealed the gap in productivity between Dorset and the national average was closing slightly.

Each hour worked in the county created an average of £33.14 in productive value in 2020, compared with £37.73 nationally.

The productivity gap for the county had narrowed from £3billion in 2019 to £2.5bn in 2020.