Google introduces new job search feature for UK workers
The company has introduced job vacancies on to its main search engine in the UK.
Job seekers will be able to ask Google to find “jobs near me” as the company makes its first foray into the UK’s recruitment sector.
The new job search feature will make it easier to find jobs as it gathers openings from existing recruitment agencies into one place directly from its search engine, Google said.
Positions will be ranked on relevance and quality, using spam detection software to filter out any fraudulent job postings.
The internet giant added that job seekers will still need to click through to third party sites from Google Search to find out more about postings and to apply.
Those who have a Gmail account can also choose to receive an email alert whenever a new job match comes up, or they can tap a button to keep track of an individual job post.
Users can also access salary information, reviews and employer ratings.
Reed.co.uk’s director of marketing Mark Rhodes said: “Early signs from our testing with Google show jobseekers arriving at reed.co.uk via this new search experience are application-ready, with a high level of intent, so we anticipate seeing a positive impact on the quality and volume of applications we supply to our recruitment clients.”
The feature, Google’s latest move to centralise services within its popular search engine, will rival existing job vacancy aggregators such as Indeed.
Indeed’s UK managing director Bill Richards said: “Indeed’s sole mission is to help people get jobs.
“To that end, we’re focused on bringing the best opportunities to jobseekers and the very best candidates to UK companies.
“Indeed is confident that it will continue to be successful no matter who enters this space.”
Google first introduced job searches in the US last year, before embarking on a wider launch which took in countries including India and South Africa.
The company says it has seen an increase in the number of companies showing jobs in its search engine and has already connected tens of millions of people around the world to new job opportunities.
In November, Google pledged to help thousands of people improve their digital skills by opening a Digital Garage in Manchester.
The scheme provides anyone with free face-to-face expert coaching and courses, in a bid to help 100,000 people in the UK find a job.
Employment increased by 146,000 in the quarter to April to 32.39 million, the highest figure since records began in 1971, giving a record rate of 75.6%.
Unemployment fell by 38,000 to 1.42 million, giving a jobless rate of 4.2%, the lowest since 1975, according to the Office for National Statistics.
