New data from Stanbic Bank Kenya’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) showed companies reduced staffing levels during the month, ending a stretch of continuous job creation that had lasted since the start of 2025. 

Many businesses said the reductions mainly affected temporary workers as lower demand eased pressure on capacity.

The PMI fell to 46.6 in May from 49.4 in April, the steepest deterioration in business conditions since July 2024. A reading below 50 signals a contraction in activity.

The downturn reveals a strong slowdown across the private sector. New orders declined for a third consecutive month and at their fastest pace since mid-2025 as customers cut spending and tightened household budgets. 

Business activity also weakened further, with firms linking the decline to lower sales and softer demand.

Construction and services companies reported falls in both output and new orders during the month. Manufacturing was the only sector to record growth in production, while declines were recorded elsewhere. Agriculture and retail businesses were among those that reduced staff numbers.

Private sector employment fell after firms reported they had enough capacity to handle current workloads. Backlogs of work also declined for a third straight month, reducing the need for additional hiring.

Christopher Legilisho, economist at Standard Bank, said: “The Stanbic Bank PMI data for May reflects a deterioration of business activity by private sector firms. Inventory purchases slowed, from being expansive, because of weakening sales, cash flow concerns, and rising costs. 

“Consumer resistance to spend, alongside rising costs, contributed to contractions in new orders and output. These declines may stem from the week-long disruption to business activity because of nationwide protests by transportation sector players that constrained movement.”

High costs added to the challenges facing businesses and, ultimately, jobs in Kenya. The survey showed overall input price inflation accelerated to its strongest level since November 2023, driven largely by higher purchase costs, fuel expenses and transportation charges.

Although wage costs continually increase, businesses kept salary growth moderate. Many firms also slowed inventory purchases and held back spending as they sought to preserve cash due to weaker sales and tighter margins.

At the same time, companies passed part of the higher costs on to customers. Selling prices rose at the fastest pace in two and a half years, with all five monitored sectors reporting increases.

The weaker business conditions will likely lead to concerns about employment prospects, particularly as thousands of young Kenyans enter the labour market every month. Consumer-facing businesses, including startups and technology firms that depend on household spending, could also face softer demand if spending remains subdued.

Despite the difficult operating environment, firms were optimistic about the year ahead. Business confidence climbed to its highest level since February 2023, supported by plans to increase advertising, introduce new products and expand digital sales channels.

Legilisho added: “Inflationary pressures have intensified, constraining demand conditions, with input prices, purchase costs and output prices driven up by higher fuel and transportation costs. Still, despite subdued business momentum, firms remain optimistic about future conditions.”

Younger people and people from countries with fast-growing populations are the most mobile. 

English-speaking geographies having strong economies lead the list of top destinations, with Australia, the US, Canada, and UK being the four most desirable countries, while Cape Town, Abuja, Cairo, Alexandria, Johannesburg, and Durban rank in the top 100 cities.

Kenya ranks 75th in terms of its overall attractiveness to global workers, while people from Uganda, South Africa, Nigeria, Belgium, and Estonia would like to come to Kenya to work.

These are among the findings of a new report published today by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), The Network, The Stepstone Group, and local partner The African Talent Company (TATC). 

Titled Decoding Global Talent 2024, the study is based on survey data from more than 150,000 workforce respondents from 188 countries, including Kenya, and is the fourth installment in a series, the previous editions having been published in 2014, 2018, and 2021.

Natives of regions with a labour surplus (owing to higher birth rates) tend to be more mobile than those who live in areas where the labour force is shrinking. 

For instance, 64% of workers in the Middle East and Africa are actively willing to relocate, and more than half of respondents in South Asia (58%) and sub-Saharan Africa (52%) are actively willing to do so. 

At the other end of the spectrum, much smaller percentages are seen in North America (16%) and Europe (10%). 

“The world’s most important economies are facing a major challenge: the great people shortage. This looming gap in the global labour market is primarily due to declining birth rates and mismatches between job supply and demand,” said The Stepstone Group CEO Sebastian Dettmers. 

“Africa is home to the workforce of the future, and by 2040, half the world’s young people will live on the continent. There are some clear reasons why people are choosing to relocate to Kenya, most notably, its welcoming culture and inclusivity (50%), quality of job opportunities (49%), quality of life (37%), and a family-friendly environment (34%),” says Zoë Karl-Waithaka, Managing Director and Partner at BCG, Nairobi.

“Labour migration represents a prime opportunity to bridge this gap. We must adapt our job markets to be more versatile, enabling workers to move to where they are most needed and where they can find the best positions for their skills and aspirations.”

The top 10 countries Kenyans prefer to work abroad for are the United States (US), Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), Germany, United Arab Emirates (UAE), South Africa, Qatar, France and Switzerland.

The survey results reveal that global talent moves abroad primarily for professional progress, with those willing to do so citing financial and economic reasons (64% of global vs 67% local respondents) and career considerations such as work experience (56% global vs 64% local respondents) as their top reasons for doing so. 

For global respondents who listed a specific reason for choosing a particular country, the quality of job opportunities was the top decisive factor (65%), with quality of life and climate ranking second (54%).

Other country-specific characteristics such as opportunities for citizenship (18%) and health care (15%) also play a role but are secondary factors.

“The three biggest reasons identified by Kenyan respondents, who are not willing to move overseas are the inability to bring family members or a life partner with them (48%); the cost of relocation (43%) and concerns about personal safety and security (34%),” says Karl-Waithaka.

“People don’t associate countries with certain generally attributed advantages and choose them on that basis,” said Sacha Knorr, co-managing director at The Network. “Instead, they opt for the destination region that most closely matches their own personal criteria for their future job choice. Companies should take advantage of this, as they can score points here with job offers that match talents’ expectations.”

The study also highlights the fact that workers who move abroad expect employers to take the lead in supporting their relocation and onboarding and to cultivate an international, inclusive culture. 

Nearly eight out of ten respondents globally expect to get help with housing (79%), versus 86% of respondents in Kenya, as well as visa and work permit assistance 78% and 91% of Kenyan respondents. More than half count on relocation support globally (69%) as opposed to 76% of Kenyan respondents.

“Importantly, nearly nine in ten (89%) local respondents have expressed a willingness to work remotely for foreign employers in Kenya, which could present global organizations with access to resources to meet people shortages in important economies,” adds Karl-Waithaka.

“Other countries can be a great source of talent. But establishing a channel of workers from abroad requires employers to fundamentally overhaul how they recruit, relocate, and integrate talent,” said Jens Baier, managing director, senior partner and leader of BCG’s work in HR excellence. 

“They may have to challenge their own biases and look for talent in markets and regions that they had not previously considered. Governments also play a strong enabling role in this process.

“They must establish policies, incentives, and frameworks that help employers bring in the talent they need. Employers and nations that tap into such positive energy from the millions of workers with mobile aspirations will gain a major competitive advantage and source of growth.”

The world body said that advanced economies are expected to experience a higher impact compared to emerging markets and low-income countries.

In a blog post, Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of IMF, called on governments to establish social safety nets and offer retraining programmes to counter the impact of AI.

“In most scenarios, AI will likely worsen overall inequality, a troubling trend that policymakers must proactively address to prevent the technology from further stoking social tensions,” she wrote ahead of the yearly meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, where the topic will be a key talking point.

Sam Altman, Chief Executive of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, and his biggest backer, Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO will speak at the event later this week as part of a programme that includes a debate today on ‘Generative AI: Steam Engine of the Fourth Industrial Revolution?’

As AI continues to be adopted by more workers and businesses, it is expected to both help and hurt the human workforce, Georgieva noted in her blog.

Echoing previous warnings from other experts, Georgieva said the effects were expected to be felt more deeply in advanced economies than emerging markets, partly because white-collar workers are seen to be more at risk than manual laborers.

In more developed economies, for example, as much as 60 per cent of jobs could be impacted by AI. Approximately half of those may benefit from how AI promotes higher productivity, she said.

“For the other half, AI applications may execute key tasks currently performed by humans, which could lower labor demand, leading to lower wages and reduced hiring,” wrote Georgieva, citing the IMF’s analysis.

“In the most extreme cases, some of these jobs may disappear.”

In emerging markets and lower-income nations, 40 per cent and 26 per cent of jobs are expected to be affected by AI, respectively. Emerging markets refer to places such as India and Brazil with sustained economic growth, while low-income countries refer to developing economies with per capita income falling within a certain level such as Burundi and Sierra Leone.

“Many of these countries don’t have the infrastructure or skilled workforces to harness the benefits of AI, raising the risk that over time the technology could worsen inequality,” noted Georgieva.

She warned that the use of AI could increase chances of social unrest, particularly if younger, less experienced workers leveraged the technology to help boost their output while more senior workers struggle to keep up.

AI became a hot topic at the WEF in Davos last year as ChatGPT took the world by storm. The chatbot sensation, which is powered by generative AI, sparked conversations on how it could change the way people work around the world due to its ability to write essays, speeches, poems and more.

Since then, upgrades to the technology have expanded the use of AI chatbots and systems, making them more mainstream and spurring massive investments.

Some tech firms have already directly pointed to AI as a reason they are rethinking staffing levels.

While workplaces may shift, widespread adoption of AI could ultimately increase labor productivity and boost global GDP by seven per cent yearly over 10 years, according to a March 2023 estimate by Goldman Sachs economists.

Georgieva also cited opportunities to boost output and incomes around the world with the use of AI.

“AI will transform the global economy,” she wrote. “Let’s make sure it benefits humanity.”

Laurent De Boeck, IOM’s Chief of Mission, disclosed this at a news conference yesterday in Abuja.

Boeck noted that some of the victims of UK Job scams lost as much as $10,000 each in their desperate attempts to secure foreign jobs.

He said victims are stranded in the UK because some of them lack the means to come back, while others are ashamed of coming back to their families.

“There are some of them who lost over $10,000 only to be given fake employment letters, which allowed them to get visas.”

“They get there, present the letters, and the organisations tell them that the letters did not emanate from the organisations. Over a thousand people are affected,” he stated.

He also disclosed that over 260,000 Nigerians had approached the agency in 2023 seeking guidance on how to migrate through regular or approved routes and also undergoing pre-departure medical health assessments.

Boeck added that IOM is working with partners to repatriate thousands of people, including Nigerians, from Tunisia, which has recently placed a ban on migration.

On displacements, Boeck said there has been about a 30 per cent annual increase for the past five years in many states of the North West.

Noting that Zamfara remained the most impacted in this regard, he said the incidents of banditry and other crimes were fueling the increase.

“In Kano, people are displaced within and there are others who have migrated, which is why our offices in Libya and Niger have more migrants originating from Kano,” he stated.

“In 2023, IOM identified and supported 682 victims of trafficking, with a dedicated focus on vulnerable groups such as survivors of gender-based violence, persons with disabilities, and unaccompanied and separated children.

“Collaborating with the Federal Government of Nigeria, IOM facilitated the return of 4,431 Nigerians and supported their reintegration. A total of 2,853 individuals received reintegration assistance, engaging in socio-economic opportunities of their choice.

“IOM’s Migration Health efforts in 2023, including over 260,000 Pre-Departure Medical Health Assessments diagnosing and referring 166 migrants with TB, administering 15,000 vaccine doses, and renovating three public hospitals, exemplified the organization’s commitment to comprehensive healthcare,” he stated. (Daily Trust).

The MoU was formalized during Africa’s first edition of Circular Economy, a landmark summit held in partnership with the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN) and the Circular Economy Innovation Partnership (CEIP), with support from the Netherlands.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, representing the state, emphasized the summit’s crucial role as a pragmatic and fundamental approach to addressing global crises such as pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss.

He highlighted the need for a model of production and consumption that embraces sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling existing materials and products to foster a resilient socio-economic development for Lagos.

Governor Sanwo-Olu expressed his vision for a greener Lagos, stating, “We will create more jobs, approximately 4,000, and elevate Lagos to become an even greater Mega City. Our commitment to promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth through encouraging sustainable consumption and production patterns cannot be overemphasized.”

The Lagos Circular Economy Hotspot 2023 holds immense significance, not only for Lagos and Nigeria but also for the entire sub-Saharan Africa region. Governor Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to eliminating waste and pollution, optimizing resources, and regenerating nature, aligning with the principles of circular economy for a more sustainable future.

As the nation continues to navigate limited resources and prioritize socio-economic needs, the partnership between Lagos State Government and the Kingdom of Netherlands is poised to unlock immense potential in waste management, job creation, and environmental preservation.

The collaborative effort of the Lagos State Government and the Kingdom of Netherlands sets a precedent for the integration of circular economy principles, driving positive change and offering innovative solutions for a cleaner, greener, and more prosperous Lagos.

When typewriters were replaced by computers and keyboards, many people lost their jobs. However, new jobs were created in the computer and technology industries, and people were able to learn new skills to adapt to the changing job market.

Similarly, as AI evolves, some jobs may become automated, but new jobs will be created in fields such as data analysis, AI development, and machine learning.

It’s important for individuals and society as a whole to be proactive in learning new skills and adapting to the changing job market.

Artificial intelligence (AI), is an exciting field that involves using computers and algorithms to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. AI is used in a wide range of applications, from virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa, to self-driving cars, to medical diagnosis and treatment. 

Jobs in the AI sector will grow in demand as its adoption increases. So, while it is important to acknowledge the potential impact of AI in the job market, it is also crucial to look for the silver lining and focus on the new opportunities that are emerging. 

Let’s discuss some of the exciting AI career opportunities available in this field;

1. Data analysts and scientists: 

These roles involve analysing and deriving insights from large amounts of data, to train learning models and improve AI systems.

2. AI engineers and developers: 

These roles require expertise in machine learning and algorithm development, as well as knowledge of programming languages.

3. Robot trainers:

As we see more robots being integrated into a variety of industries, there will be a need for professionals to train and supervise them on how to perform specific tasks and interact with humans. They also provide continuous support and maintenance to ensure that the robots are functioning properly.

4. AI Ethical and policy advisors:

These are experts who can address the ethical implications and societal impact of AI, while ensuring that AI is not used wrongly by software practitioners and even consumers. They bear the responsibility to ensure that the development and deployment of AI systems are in line with the appropriate rule and regulation as well as uphold transparency, reduce bias and protect consumer privacy.

5. Cybersecurity experts: 

As AI-powered systems are increasingly integrated into our daily lives, there will be a greater need for cybersecurity professionals to provide protection from cyber threats.

These professionals develop strategies to protect against AI attacks, identify and eradicate vulnerabilities, and ensure that sensitive data is protected in AI systems. 

6. AI product managers: 

These professionals are responsible for developing and launching AI-powered products that are technically feasible and meet the needs of customers.

They also work with the sales and marketing team to develop go-to-market strategies and ensure that the product is successful in the marketplace. They manage product roadmaps and ensure that the product is continuously updated and improved over time.

7. Virtual assistants provide support and assistance to customers through AI-powered chatbots and other virtual assistant platforms.

8. Natural language processing experts (NLP) design and develop AI algorithms and systems that can understand and interpret natural language input from customers. They work to improve the accuracy and efficiency of NLP systems and to develop new techniques for analysing and interpreting language data.

9. Image and video processing experts specialise in developing and implementing AI algorithms that can analyse and make sense of visual data, such as images and videos. In addition, they may work on developing new applications for image and video processing including: facial recognition, object detection, and autonomous vehicles.

10. AI interface designers design interfaces and user experiences that incorporate AI technology, such as voice recognition and natural language processing. It is their job to ensure that the interface is accessible to users with a wide range of abilities and disabilities as well as adaptable to different devices and flatforms.

11. Digital transformation consultants help organisations integrate AI technology into their operations and workflows, improving efficiencies and productivity; they analyse organisations’ requirements, existing resources and their ability to scale. They use the data to recommend suitable digital processes that will help them to effectively use the digital technology, tools and detect issues before they occur.

12. AI marketing specialists leverage AI technology to help companies analyse and understand customer behaviour, develop targeted marketing campaigns, and build customer engagement.

13. Autonomous vehicle engineers design and develop AI-powered systems for autonomous vehicles, including self-driving cars, trucks, and drones.

14. Chatbot developers design and develop chatbot systems that can interact with customers and address their needs through natural language processing, on a variety of Scenarios.

15. Healthcare AI experts develop and implement AI-powered systems and algorithms to improve patient care and outcomes in the healthcare industry.

16. E-commerce AI specialists leverage AI technology to help companies analyse customer data, develop personalised recommendations, and optimise the online shopping experience.

17. Supply chain AI analysts are responsible for analysing large amounts of supply chain data to develop algorithms and systems that can optimise logistics and improve efficiencies. They can develop chatbots and virtual assistants that can assist customers and retailers from fraudulent activity. 

18. Agriculture AI experts design and develop AI-powered systems that can improve crop yields, manage resources, and optimise farming practices: these AI systems provide farmers with the forecasting and predictive analytics to reduce errors and minimise the risk of crop failures.

19. Social media AI analysts analyse social media data using AI, developing insights and recommendations to help companies improve their online presence and engagement.

In conclusion, while some jobs may be replaced by AI, the development and use of AI technology will also create new and exciting job opportunities.

Some of these roles are already explained in this article, but they are not limited to these. Therefore, it is only right to do your research to understand and be able evolve into the new working systems that AI will offer.

For individuals who are new to the tech world and lack knowledge of technology, starting can be intimidating. The tech industry is rapidly expanding globally and is highly dynamic. However, it also offers exciting prospects for those aspiring to build a career in this field.

Experts widely agree that embarking on the internship route can open doors for you. It provides an opportunity to gain real-world experience within a professional environment. At this stage, expectations are not excessively high because you are not yet in a full-time position. It’s akin to training and preparing you for the actual job role.

Here are several compelling reasons why you should consider starting with an internship before pursuing a tech job:

Professional Environment

Internships allow you to familiarize yourself with the professional culture and work dynamics of the tech industry. You’ll gain insight into how teams collaborate, communicate, and solve problems within a business setting.

Relationship Building

Meeting new people presents you with opportunities to shape and influence your career. Internships provide a chance to network with industry professionals, a crucial aspect of advancing your career. Building connections with mentors, colleagues, and industry leaders can lead to future employment prospects, referrals, and potential collaborations.

Practical Experience

Take advantage of the opportunity to explore and discover your interests. That’s precisely what an internship offers. It allows you to learn about various aspects of the tech sector and choose the specific area or specialty you wish to pursue.

Learning Opportunities

Starting as an intern exposes you to seasoned experts who can provide guidance, and advice, and share their expertise in the field. You’ll learn about the industry while developing the necessary skills to thrive in it. Additionally, these experienced colleagues can offer feedback on your work, help identify areas for improvement, and provide valuable career guidance.

Employment Prospects

An internship demonstrates to potential employers that you possess professional experience and a commitment to advancing your career. It shows that you have the skills, knowledge, and work ethic required for success in the field. Including an internship on your resume can make a strong impression on hiring managers and increase your chances of securing a job.

In conclusion, starting your tech journey with an internship can significantly benefit your career growth. It allows you to gain valuable experience, develop essential skills, and establish connections within the industry. It serves as a stepping stone toward a successful and rewarding career in technology

However, it’s worth noting that although a bachelor’s degree may not be mandatory for these roles, acquiring pertinent certifications, licenses, or further training can significantly improve employment prospects and potential earnings.

Given the dynamic nature of the job market, it is crucial to stay abreast of industry trends and actively seek continuous learning opportunities to progress in your chosen field.

Here are the fastest-growing jobs for people without a bachelor’s degree, according to LinkedIn:

1. Consulting
   Top jobs: Client advisor, business consultant, solutions consultant
2. Marketing
   Top jobs: Social media manager, marketing specialist, marketing coordinator
3. Research
   Top jobs: Laboratory technician, business analyst, medical laboratory technician
4. Human resources
   Top jobs: Human resources specialist, human resources assistant
5. Media and communications
   Top jobs: Writer, production assistant, editor, production manager

According to LinkedIn, hiring for consulting roles has experienced substantial growth for candidates without a bachelor’s degree. Between 2021 and 2022, there was a notable 34% increase in hiring for these positions. This trend indicates a growing recognition among employers that a bachelor’s degree is not always necessary for success in the consulting field.

Moreover, it’s worth highlighting that some of these jobs offer impressive six-figure salaries. Skilled production managers, for instance, can expect to earn a minimum of $106,000 per year. On the other hand, top-earning solutions consultants typically have salaries ranging from $113,000 to $167,000 annually, according to data from ZipRecruiter.

“People will hear ‘consulting’ and immediately picture a job at a big consulting firm, but there are a lot of freelance and contract opportunities where you can use your skills or expertise in a certain area, like sales, for example, to advise a company or client on a specific project,” says Andrew Seaman, senior managing editor for jobs and career development at LinkedIn News. “You don’t need a bachelor’s degree to do that.”

He said in the same vein, more companies are rethinking how they hire for HR roles, prioritizing soft skills like communication and leadership over a candidate’s educational background, Seaman adds.

“There is so much valuable life experience a person can bring to an HR job, and more companies are offering training and certification programs to fill in any skills gaps,” he says.

“For example, at the start of the pandemic, we saw a lot of people on LinkedIn who suddenly couldn’t do their jobs anymore, like bartenders and people who worked in hospitality, pivot to roles in HR, because they already had the people skills you need to thrive in such jobs.”

Lekki Deep Sea Port, operational but still partly under construction, is a multi-purpose port in the Lagos Free Zone. It is the largest seaport in Nigeria and one of the biggest in West Africa.

Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo said it is Nigeria’s second largest port after Onne Deep Sea Port and will increase tonnage and generate more money for both the port and the nation.

He continued by saying that the project would benefit the economy of the country.

The Minister said, “Lekki Deep Sea Port project is the second after Onne Deep Sea Port in Nigeria. It is significant because the largest ships in the world can berth at the port.

That means more tonnage, more cargo, more revenue for the port and for the country, more economic activity, and above all, more jobs like I said.

Over 112, 000 direct and indirect jobs will be created as a result of the creation of the Lekki Deep Sea Port.

“This will be in the first few years and as time goes on and as activities expand, the number of jobs will even multiply, and that is what is good for us. For as many jobs we have, the more our ability to put food on the table of many Nigerians. “

At the same time, data-driven recruitment platforms have revolutionised traditional hiring by helping companies better identify, target, and retain quality talent.

Posting online job listings has many advantages over headhunting or using other traditional hiring techniques. For recruiters or employers trying to find the best person for the job, there are a few benefits and best practises they should know about.

The benefits of job listings

Creating ads or posting job listings can hold many benefits – especially when they are backed by vast amounts of recruitment data. Recruiters only conducting a database search instead of advertising their job vacancies often miss out on new, fresh talent actively applying for positions and ready to move.

To drive the right candidates to the right jobs, many of today’s leading recruitment platforms use job-matching technologies that send job alerts to suitable candidates. These alerts are segmented based on various fields (such as location, sector, or experience level), providing candidates with very specific job ads sent directly to their inbox daily or weekly. 

Pnet, for example, which attracts 40.5% of the online traffic market share among local recruitment websites, sends 70 million job alerts to candidates every month, delivering over 45% of the platform’s applications.

Additionally, recruiters using a partner network of aggregators can further increase the number of applications they receive and ensure the widest possible reach.

Reducing time-to-hire is a significant challenge for employers, and often a critical KPI for recruiters. But recruiters receive many responses to ads, which they then have to sort through to shortlist candidates.

With today’s sophisticated filtering tools, however, recruiters can segment these responses based on the candidate’s profile that was created at registration.

Response handling services also save recruiters more time by managing the entire process for them.

All they need to do is supply their job description, shortlist criteria, and a closing date. Recruitment platforms that offer these services then advertise, filter, and provide them with a shortlist of rated and scored candidates to interview.

Companies could be missing out on attracting good talent because their ads aren’t performing as well as competitors’ ads. But, with platforms that provide job ad competitor insights, businesses can see exactly how their ads are performing relative to others in their industry.

With real-time insights into candidate behaviour and who their competitors for talent are, recruiters can also proactively amend their listings or try alternative titles to improve their candidate delivery.

Job listing best practises

To ensure ads attract more candidates, especially those that are ideal for the job, it’s important that they follow certain job listing best practices. For example, always try to use a simple and straightforward title but use rich, clear language for the details in the ad content. It is also helpful to include synonyms for the job title in the ad content and give a clear description of required skills that cover as many potential jobseeker search terms as possible.

Ultimately, how well the job description matches the information in the job listing will help the matching technology work its magic to find the right candidates.

A well-structured and organised ad is always more effective. Avoid a long job title that includes details of the ad, or large blocks of unstructured text. Advertising multiple roles in one ad or mentioning other job titles can interfere with the job search relevance and ranking, as will adding a list of keywords or using obscure jargon.

Eligibility criteria, such as qualifications or access to transport, should always be clearly listed, but it’s important not to go overboard as it can also be discouraging to candidates.

Instead, including additional information related to your Employee Value Proposition such as company culture, working environment, opportunities for growth and development, or bonuses, can be more beneficial as it shows what you have to offer candidates.

Great job ads lead to great candidates

Think of a job listing as an advertising opportunity for your company. With a dynamic, well-structured, and captivating representation of the company and the available position, job ads can stand out and improve the number of applications and quality of applicants a job ad gets.

Great job ads lead to great candidates and, with the help of data-driven recruitment platforms like Pnet, recruiters can ensure they find those candidates faster – and with more consistency – than before.