Gedling borough has been named as the UK’s most challenging place to find work, new research has revealed.
The research analysed the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on the number of job adverts in each local authority compared against the estimated number of people who are unemployed and seeking work.
The study was conducted by virtual office provider Virtual HQ to explore which parts of the country might be most tempted to consider going freelance or setting up their own business.
The results revealed that Gedling borough is the most competitive local authority for job seekers as its unemployment count stands at 2,400, while its job advert count is just 657. As a result there are just 27 job ads for every 100 unemployed people, or 365 unemployed people for every 100 job ads – the worst ratios in the UK, and a potential reason for those looking for a new job to consider self-employment.
North East Derbyshire is the second of three East Midlands local authorities to appear in the UK top five most challenging places to find work. It has 622 job ads available for 1,900 people who are unemployed, which is a ratio of 305 people per 100 job ads.
Broxtowe is third in the region and fourth place nationally as there are 296 people for every 100 job ads, due to an unemployment count of 2,500 and the availability of just 846 job ads.
The East Midlands’ fourth toughest place to find work is Ashfield, where there were 1,565 job ads according to the latest government figures, but 3,600 people without a job who are actively seeking work, which equates to 224 people for every 100 job ads.
Oadby and Wigston completes the East Midlands top five with 1,000 job seekers and 532 job ads, resulting in 188 people per 100 ads.
Commenting on the study, Andrew Manning MD of Virtual HQ said: “This study offers a fascinating insight into the evolving UK job market, which continues to shift as AI reshapes the skills employers need.
“When people face a tough job market, sometimes the best option is to consider alternative routes, such as the flexibility of freelancing, or the potential of setting up your own business.
“There are around 1.3 million people who are unemployed and looking for work, while there are roughly 1.6 million live job adverts, but the balance between supply and demand varies sharply.
“Three areas in both the East of England and East Midlands rank among the ten toughest places to secure a role, while six of the ten most favourable locations for jobseekers are in the South East. Wherever people are based, unemployment is a good time to take stock and think about what you want to do next, whether that is starting your own business or changing careers.”
The East Midlands’ top ten most difficult local authorities to find a job, by Virtual HQ
| Rank | Local Authority | Unemployment count | Job ad count | Unemployed people per 100 job ads |
| 1 | Gedling | 2,400 | 657 | 365 |
| 2 | North East Derbyshire | 1,900 | 622 | 305 |
| 3 | Broxtowe | 2,500 | 846 | 296 |
| 4 | Ashfield | 3,500 | 1,565 | 224 |
| 5 | Oadby and Wigston | 1,000 | 532 | 188 |
| 6 | Bassetlaw | 2,600 | 1,438 | 181 |
| 7 | Bolsover | 1,800 | 1,027 | 175 |
| 8 | Mansfield | 2,800 | 1,640 | 171 |
| 9 | Blaby | 1,600 | 988 | 162 |
| 10 | Rushcliffe | 1,700 | 1,089 | 156 |
At the other end of the scale, Boston has the East Midlands’ lowest ratio of people to job adverts. The local authority has an unemployment count of 1,400, but a job ad count of 3,268, which equates to just 43 people for every 100 job ads.
The Derbyshire Dales has the region’s second lowest rate of people per job ads due to 1,000 unemployed job seekers, and 2,204 job adverts. This means that for every 100 job ads, there are just 45 people looking for employment. Nottingham is in third place, on 57 people per 100 job ads.
Rutand and North West Leicestershire take fourth and fifth spot on 60 job seekers per 100 job ads each.
