Around 20% more job applications year-on-year

^{An interview with Guðrún Þorsteinsdóttir, Human Resources Manager, was published in Fjarðarfréttir on Wednesday, 26 June 2019.}

There are 2,062 permanent employees at the City of Hafnarfjörður, who work at 70 locations across the city, according to Guðrún Þorsteinsdóttir, Human Resources Manager at the City of Hafnarfjörður. Over the summer, the number of staff increases significantly, with around 1,000 more being added. During the summer, the council therefore employs just over 3,000 people.

^{Guðrún Þorsteinsdóttir, Human Resources Manager for the City of Hafnarfjörður}

The educational level of applicants is increasing

There is a great demand for all specialist posts, says Guðrún, who herself started working for the City of Hafnarfjörður on 1 October. „We have recently appointed a department head and staff for the payroll and accounts department, and are in the process of recruiting a specialist for BRÚNA (Child | Counselling | Resources), which is a relatively new service within the municipality.“. She says that interest in all these jobs is great, applications run into the tens, and the selection is often difficult. „The educational level of applicants is generally rising and interest in working within local authorities appears to be increasing. A large proportion of our staff work within the school community in Hafnarfjörður and, unfortunately, the number of qualified professionals in nurseries and primary schools across Iceland as a whole has been decreasing, or at the very least has remained static. It is a nationwide problem which, hopefully, will be resolved by all the measures currently being taken by the Ministry of Education; at any rate, enrolment in vocational training has not been higher in recent years. We have also taken various steps to attract qualified professionals to our schools, and this has certainly paid off. For example, we have a group of people who are employed whilst studying for a professional qualification, and they receive support for this. We have also been encouraging those who have worked for years without professional qualifications to gain an appropriate qualification, and this has opened up exciting opportunities for many. These and other measures are the result of collaboration and discussions by working groups on improved working conditions within the nurseries and primary schools in Hafnarfjörður.“ says Guðrún.

Around 20% more applications year-on-year

„This year we have advertised 248 vacancies and at the same time last year, 271 jobs were advertised. In total, 2,814 applications have been received for the 248 posts we have advertised so far this year, whereas at the same point last year, 2,349 applications had been received for the 271 posts that had been advertised. The year-on-year increase in applications is therefore 465, or about 20.1%. In 2016, applications totalled 2,031, and in 2017 they were 2,287. This represents a growing trend in the number of applications in recent years, although the number of jobs has not necessarily increased. Thus, there are 11 applications for every advertised job this year, and 9 applications for every advertised job in 2017 and 2018. This sends a certain message.“

Around 1,000 people in summer jobs

There are just over 1,000 individuals in summer jobs with the City of Hafnarfjörður. Almost 700 young people aged 14-16, which is about 63% of this age group in Hafnarfjörður, according to Guðrún. „This group undertakes a variety of tasks, dividing into general work groups, an environmental group, an arts group, peer education, and assisting with sports and play courses at sports clubs. In addition, around 300 individuals aged 17 and over are also working with us this summer on projects including those for the sports clubs, maintenance work and gardening.“ says Guðrún.

What do you think has caused this increased interest?

„There are certainly many factors at play here, including the state of the job market and the upheaval of recent months. I also have the feeling that the factors applicants consider have become broader than just pay and conditions. As a result, people are increasingly looking at jobs in their home town or a neighbouring local authority, as there are significant advantages to not having to travel long distances to and from work, the benefits, the variety, and the experience that can be gained from a job with a local authority. Municipal roles are creative and enjoyable, covering a range of services including planning, culture and the arts, as well as diverse work with children, young people, families, individuals, the elderly and disabled people.