UK jobs outlook is the weakest in Europe, study finds

For a poll conducted by recruitment provider Manpower, the UK's employment prospects are the worst in Europe.

Following a tightening of the Covid-19 restrictions in October and November, ManpowerGroup's regular employment outlook survey reported that opportunities to get a job in retail and hospitality are, right now, more poor than during the first statewide easing during the spring.

Retail and hospitality sector in the UK - which was hit hard by the pandemic - have been the grimmest on records.

The prospect of renewed rising unemployment was highlighted by a jobs report which showed Britain's job prospects were among the weakest in Europe.

Over the three months to September unemployment surged to the highest level in almost four years.

Paul Martin, UK Director of Retail at KPMG, said: 'The evolution of Black Friday from a day to now spanning multiple weeks has further distorted trading patterns and will have likely brought Christmas purchases forward. Despite this, high-street retailers will still be hoping that consumers will be pounding the pavements in the coming weeks as they battle hard to make up for lost ground in this crucial time.'

Helen Dickinson, CEO of BRC, said: "November saw the brakes put on the sales growth that had been seen over the previous three months. In-store non-food sales saw a significant decline as a result of the lockdown in England; however, some retailers were able offset a proportion of lost sales through greater online and click-and-collect sales, ensuring they could still serve their customers.