Many online job adverts are wasting Epping Forest jobseekers’ and employers’ time by failing to provide clear information, it has been claimed.

Research by the Epping Forest Citizens’ Advice Bureau found that half of all online job posts sampled failed to give pay details and more than seven in every 10 did not specify if shift work was involved.

Adverts providing unclear information about hours, pay and other important issues are failing to meet requirements from the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA), the bureau claimed, and leave people unable to know if a job would allow them to pay bills or fit around commitments such as childcare.

Analysis of 150 adverts in areas local residents are likely to commute to revealed over a quarter failed to specify an employer or agency.

More than a quarter also failed to say if the position was permanent or temporary.

It found 59 per cent of posts did not say where the work would be, and 55 per cent were unclear of the job was full or part time.

One advert actually appeared to be an attempt to recruit people for a training course which they would have to pay for.

This advert will be referred to the ASA, said the bureau.

District bureau manager Rachel Poulter said: “People seeking employment face a real challenge if job adverts don’t even tell them if they’ll earn enough to keep a roof over their head.

“Applying for jobs where hours and pay are unclear risks consuming valuable hours of job-hunting time.

“Vague job ads also risk wasting employers’ time and money because a lack of information could increase the number of unsuitable applications and put stronger candidates off applying.

“Some of these ads are quite informal, placed by individuals who presumably lack experience in writing job ads, but there is really no excuse for companies or employment agencies placing inadequate ads.

“Good ads help people decide whether to apply for a role, and employers will also benefit from a better pool of applicants.”