Labor demand has fallen amid continuing difficulties in many sectors, such as garments and textiles, tourism, construction, and real estate, according to recruitment services provider the Navigos Group.

In the first four months of this year, labor recruitment demand fell 18 per cent compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic. Some sectors saw a reduction of up to 43 per cent, according to the group’s latest report released on May 31.

Tourism, restaurants, and hotels are considered to have suffered the most from the pandemic, with labor recruitment demand falling 43 per cent. Demand for workers in the garment and textile and footwear sector was down 39 per cent; construction and real estate 34 per cent; and information technology 20 per cent.

Other sectors posting a decline in worker demand were logistics, imports and exports, marketing, and customer services.

However, recruitment demand has risen in several other sectors, such as banking and financial services.

The Navigos Group forecast that businesses will still take measures to cut costs and not employ more workers until the global economy recovers.