New recent figures from the Office for National Statistics show that tens of thousands of working age people in Doncaster are ‘economically inactive’. Doncaster Free Press have reported that, from year to June, 46,649 working-age people in Doncaster were economically inactive.
At 24.8%, Doncaster’s economically inactive are higher than the average across Yorkshire and The Humber (23.5%) and the UK average at 21.3%.
So, how can employers navigate this challenge in the market? Here are our tips…
Are your roles competitive?
Before advertising a vacancy, it’s worth asking – is your role truly competitive?
We’ve looked at some of the average local pay rates from Indeed hiring reports (October 2025) and in many cases, small adjustments in hourly rate or benefits can make a big difference to how many applications you receive.
💡 Tip: A quick competitor analysis helps you see what similar businesses in Doncaster are offering. Are your pay rates, hours and benefits in line with market expectations? Are you promoting flexibility or incentives that make your role stand out?
If you’re unsure where your job sits in the current market, we can help. Contact us for a free local labour market hiring report — including salary benchmarking and candidate availability by role type.
Consider apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are a brilliant way to build your own talent pipeline while supporting young people in Doncaster and the surrounding areas.
According to the Department for Education, over 736,500 people in England participated in an apprenticeship in 2023/24.
For employers, apprenticeships can:
- Improve staff retention and loyalty
Offer cost-effective training routes
Develop skills tailored to your business needs
Support corporate social responsibility goals
To attract younger talent, highlight clear progression routes, mentorship opportunities and company culture in your job adverts.
To find out more about local apprenticeship support, visit:
Investing in training pays off, you never know, today’s apprentice could be tomorrow’s team leader!
Source candidates for free!
Not every hire needs to start with a paid advert. There are free, high-traffic platforms where you can promote your jobs to a local audience.
StandoutCV found that 79% of job seekers use social media during their job search – with local Facebook groups being an active space for community hiring.
📣 Join our Doncaster Job Group, where we connect employers with over 43,000 local people looking for opportunities. You can advertise your vacancies completely free, reach active job seekers, and engage with potential candidates directly.
Whether you’re looking for warehouse staff, drivers or office support, our group gives you instant access to one of the largest online job communities in the region.
Use the right keywords
Getting seen on job boards isn’t just about posting – it’s about how you post. The right keywords make a huge difference in visibility. Talos360 have reported that you only have 8 seconds to catch a candidates’ attention!
Here’s how to optimise your job ads:
Use clear job titles: For example, more job seekers search “Forklift” than “FLT”
Avoid vague phrases like “competitive salary” – candidates prefer seeing real pay ranges. Reed found in a study that 68% of 18-34-year-olds would not, or would be unlikely to, apply for a role that does not state the salary on the job ad.
Include location and shift details in your title or first line
Keep job descriptions concise (250–400 words) with clear headings and bullet points. Insight Global reported that on average, job ads under 300 words get 8.4% more response.
Use natural language: candidates search how they speak.
A 2024 job board analysis showed that listings with clear, searchable keywords receive up to 3x more views and 2x more applications than vague or jargon-heavy ads.
Work with local job centres
Your local Jobcentre Plus can be a great free resource when hiring.
They offer:
- Access to candidates actively seeking work in Doncaster and nearby areas
- Pre-screening and interview facilities
- Support for inclusive recruitment and diversity initiatives
Working closely with local Jobcentres also helps you tap into government-funded schemes, such as training grants and employability programmes.
It’s a great way to connect with local talent who are eager to get back into work — while giving back to the community.
Consider a recruitment partner
If you’re struggling to find the right people, partnering with a local recruitment agency can save you time and money.
At Essential Recruitment, our Doncaster-based consultants know the local labour market inside out — from salary trends to candidate expectations. We maintain a live database of local job seekers, pre-screen candidates and match them to your exact requirements.
Working with a local partner means:
Faster turnaround on vacancies
Access to broader candidate networks
Advice on compliance, onboarding, retention and more!
Whether you need short-term cover or long-term hires, we’re here to help you build a stronger workforce in Doncaster, Scunthorpe, Goole and beyond. View our services for flexible temporary and long term temp to permanent hiring.
