Number of UK job vacancies increased in May

Number of UK job vacancies increased in May

The UK jobs market showed signs of resilience in May despite continuing economic and political uncertainty, with the number of active job vacancies rising modestly. According to the latest Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) Labour Market Tracker, there were 1.62 million active job postings across the UK in May, up 0.8% from April and 8% higher than a year earlier. The figures suggest that demand for workers remains relatively stable despite concerns over global tensions, rising employment costs and changes to labour market regulation. However, the number of newly advertised roles fell during the month. New job postings totalled 683,121 in May, down 4% compared with April and 9.2% lower than the same month last year, indicating that employers remain cautious about expanding their workforce. The REC said the overall level of active vacancies had returned to a similar position to that seen in March, suggesting the labour market may be stabilising after recent fluctuations. While most parts of the UK recorded growth in...
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June 2026 UK Labour Market Update: Job Postings Continue to Slide

June 2026 UK Labour Market Update: Job Postings Continue to Slide

Persistently weak hiring demand continues to weigh on the UK labour market. Key points: UK job postings have taken another leg down in recent weeks. Weakening has been broad-based across categories. Posted wage growth is down from peaks, but still solid. Our Labour Market Updates examine important trends using Indeed and other labour market data. Our European Labour Market Overview chartbook provides a more comprehensive view of the European labour market. Other data, including the Indeed Wage Tracker, is regularly updated and can be accessed on our data portal. The UK labour market continues to weaken amid persistently sluggish hiring demand. Though the latest official statistics don’t yet suggest the gradual weakening is turning into a bigger jobs shakeout, employers are maintaining a cautious approach, and there remain few signs that a meaningful improvement is arriving any time soon.  Spotlight: UK job postings have continued to slide   Hiring demand has continued to soften in recent weeks. Through 12 June, UK job postings were down around 5% in the...
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University of Sussex staff vote in favour of strike over job cuts

University of Sussex staff vote in favour of strike over job cuts

University of Sussex staff have voted to go on strike in a dispute over plans to cut about 200 jobs.Members of the University and College Union (UCU) backed industrial action by 81%, with a turnout of 70% in a ballot that closed on Thursday.The union said the result showed staff were prepared to fight to protect jobs and student provision.The university said the proposed cuts were needed to save £35 million a year, with vice-chancellor Prof Sasha Roseneil calling the situation "regrettable" but adding "very difficult decisions" were needed.Jo Pawlik, president of the Sussex UCU branch, said: "This strong support for strike action shows Sussex staff will fight to protect our jobs and our student provision.""UCU members are the university, now more than ever we need to stand together as a union," she added. Source link...
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More oil and gas workers to be supported into jobs

More oil and gas workers to be supported into jobs

Over a thousand more oil and gas workers to get tailored support to move into new growing industries, from clean energy to advanced manufacturing Comes as UK and Scottish governments invest a total of £6 million to expand a successful skills programme that has already helped over 400 North Sea workers retrain The expanded scheme will now open to more workers across Scotland, offering the skills needed to access thousands of high-quality jobs in a range of fast-expanding sectors Over a thousand more oil and gas workers will benefit from tailored career support to access good, well-paid jobs in clean energy and other growth sectors, as a successful skills programme is expanded across Scotland.   Backed by a total of £6 million from UK and Scottish governments, the expansion follows a successful pilot scheme in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire - which has helped over 400 North Sea workers retrain for roles in Scotland’s energy transition.  Following popular demand, the new scheme will give current and former oil and gas workers living anywhere in Scotland specialist training support, if they wish to transfer their high-value skills into fast-expanding sectors under the energy transition.   The expansion follows the government’s plans, announced last year, to continue to use the North Sea for decades to come, by managing existing oil and gas fields for their lifetime...
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British firms to get £3,000 for every long-term jobless youngster they hire | Youth unemployment

British firms to get £3,000 for every long-term jobless youngster they hire | Youth unemployment

Employers in Great Britain will be given £3,000 for every long-term unemployed young person they hire under government plans to reduce the welfare bill and joblessness.The scheme, which will be available to firms from Tuesday, is aimed at helping 60,000 people aged 18-24 enter work over the next three years.Employers in England, Scotland and Wales can access the grant if they take on an eligible young person who has been out of work for six months or more.Labour has faced fierce criticism from opposition leaders and business groups who say its policy decisions, including the increase in employers’ national insurance contributions and a rising minimum wage, have added to Britain’s crisis in youth jobs.A government-commissioned report by the former minister Alan Milburn recently found the UK was an outlier, with 1 million people aged 16 to 24 – about one in eight – not in employment, education or training (Neet).A decade ago the Neet rate in Britain was near the...
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Funding for businesses who give youngsters a chance as Government ramps up youth jobs drive

Funding for businesses who give youngsters a chance as Government ramps up youth jobs drive

From tomorrow, employers can claim £3,000 if they take on an eligible young person who has been out of work for six months. Attractions giant Merlin Entertainments – which is also participating in the Government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme – is one of the first major backers of the grant and will offer 300 jobs for young people as part of the Youth Guarantee. This comes as almost one million young people will benefit from more intensive, tailored support in jobcentres. From tomorrow (Tuesday 30 June 2026) businesses can access the new Youth Jobs Grant, which will pay £3,000 for every eligible young person they hire – helping thousands more young people take their first step on the career ladder. It is a major investment in the next generation, helping up to 60,000 people aged 18 to 24 take their first steps into work over the next three years. The grant is being...
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Why the graduate jobs crisis demands urgent action

Why the graduate jobs crisis demands urgent action

Join HEPI, Kaplan and London Economics for a webinar on Thursday 9 July 2026, from 12pm to 1pm, launching new research on the economic costs and benefits of international students, including for the first time estimates broken down by parliamentary constituency using students’ actual residential locations. The session will explore the latest evidence on the gross and net economic impact of international students across the UK and what the findings mean for policymakers, institutions and local communities. Register now.This blog was kindly authored by Ava Doherty, an undergraduate at the University of Oxford.Following reports that 2024 and 2025 mark the worst years for UK graduates entering the job market, it’s time to address why this crisis is deepening and what policymakers must do about it.My generation was sold a simple promise: work hard, earn a degree from a ‘good university’, and employment would follow. Instead, we face a perfect storm that policymakers have largely ignored.The graduate employment crisis stems from...
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Delivery drivers and couriers: Most in demand jobs in UK revealed – and the locations where vacancies are rising the most

Delivery drivers and couriers: Most in demand jobs in UK revealed – and the locations where vacancies are rising the most

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreA notable surge in job vacancies for...
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Most in demand jobs in UK revealed – and the places where vacancies are rising

Most in demand jobs in UK revealed – and the places where vacancies are rising

The Independent and Yahoo will earn a commission from purchases made via links in this article. Pricing and availability are subject to change.A notable surge in job vacancies for delivery drivers, couriers, actors, entertainers, presenters and pest control officers has been seen in recent weeks, new research indicates.Overall, the UK job market saw 1.7 million adverts in June, marking a 9 per cent increase on May and an 11 per cent rise year-on-year, according to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (Rec).The biggest regional increases were recorded in Anglesey, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and Cheshire. Significant rises were also noted in agriculture, retail, and hospitality roles, which Rec suggests bodes well for summer seasonal hiring.Lorraine Laryea, Rec’s chief standards officer, said: “There is a clear uptick in firms taking action on long-held hiring plans. We do need to be careful of seasonal effects, including the two bank holidays in May and the onset of summer hiring in locations like...
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Jackdaw gasfield would create only 27 direct full-time jobs, documents show | Fossil fuels

Jackdaw gasfield would create only 27 direct full-time jobs, documents show | Fossil fuels

More people can fit on to the top deck of a standard London bus than will be directly employed on the new Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea, industry documents show.Only 27 direct full-time jobs would be created by Jackdaw, one of the biggest gasfields remaining in the North Sea, according to an environmental impact assessment filed publicly by its owner, Adura, a joint venture between Shell and Norway’s Equinor.The document states: “Over the lifetime of the field there would be a consistent level of employment averaging at nearly 500 jobs a year in direct, indirect and induced employment – this includes 273 direct jobs which exist on the Shearwater host installation and [an] additional 27 Jackdaw-specific jobs.”The fossil fuel industry, along with the Conservatives, Reform UK and sections of the Labour party, is lobbying Andy Burnham, the incoming prime minister, for Jackdaw and Rosebank, an oilfield west of Shetland, to be given the go-ahead.On Thursday some media reports suggested...
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