Topic
job vacancies
Business Job vacancies at five-year low as smaller firms scale back recruitment
Job vacancies in the UK fell to 707,000 in May-to-July, the lowest level in more than five years, as smaller firms scaled back recruitment citing labour and operating costs, according to the Office for National Statistics. The unemployment rate held at 4.9% and regular earnings growth picked up to 3.5%, with the ONS saying the labour market was 'little changed overall'.
Business UK Job Vacancies Fall to Five-Year Low as Firms Cut Back on Recruitment
The number of UK job vacancies fell to 707,000 in March-May 2026, the lowest level in five years, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The data signals a softening labour market, with professional services, retail and hospitality seeing the steepest declines. New hires also hit a five-year low at just under 540,000 in April. The unemployment rate edged down to 4.9% while regular pay growth held at 3.4%.