As unemployment rises, government plans to help school leavers has led to increased demand for support workers, according to a report from Hays Social Housing.

Matt Lewis, business director at Hays Social Housing, says: “We are experiencing a steady demand for social housing jobs, particularly for support workers to undertake varying assignments with the 16-25 age group and this requirement is expected to increase as government grants for supported funding become available.

“We’ve been running a series of workshops with a focus on how to create a winning CV and how to conduct yourself during an interview. The sessions have had a positive impact, helping to break down some of the barriers that are preventing individuals from fulfilling their true potential.

“The demand for housing advice officers has increased significantly over the past few months.

“Salaries have remained stable given the increased competition for skills to attract the best applicants, as pressure for these services continues to increase.

“Housing associations are looking for individuals with transferable skills to work as leasehold officers, liaising with private landlords and carrying out risk assessments.”