Job search activities

The concept of job search is an important aspect of labour market behaviour. It covers the ways in which unemployed people find work and how those already in employment find additional or different jobs.

Most of the interest in job search is concentrated on the steps taken by the unemployed to find work. One of the criteria that defines individuals as unemployed is that they have taken active steps to seek paid employment or self-employment in the last four weeks. Active steps include writing to an employer or answering an advertisement and are distinguished from passive steps, such as waiting for the results of a job application.

Data on different job search methods are collected using the Labour Force Survey (LFS). Respondents are asked to select from the following list which job search methods they have used and also which was their main method:

• visited a jobcentre

• visited a careers office

• visited a job club

• signed up to a private employment agency

• advertised for jobs in newspapers, journals or on the internet

• answered advertisements in

• newspapers, journals or the Internet

• studied situations vacant columns in newspapers, journals or the internet

• applied direct to employers

• asked friends, relatives, colleagues or trade unions about jobs

• waited for the results of an application for a job

• looked for premises or equipment for a job

• sought any kind of permit to be able to do a job

• tried to get a loan or other financial backing for a job or business

• did anything else to find work

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) does not regularly publish information on job search. However, occasional articles on job search appear in Labour Market Trends. The data are also available from the LFS databases.