Around 979,000 were on the move between July and September, the Office for National Statistics said yesterday. Of those, 391,000 were resignations, compared with just 105,000 at the same time last year.

       Vacancies also hit a record 1.172 million high, up 388,000 from the pre-pandemic level.

       However, salary growth has been buoyant as employers are competing for workers.

       Total average weekly earnings were up 5.8 percent this year, down from a 7.2 percent previously.

       Sarah Coles, from investment specialists Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Record vacancies have offered new opportunities. “We’ve never seen so many people hand their notice in and find work elsewhere.”