Category: JOBS

More than half (54%) of UK businesses say AI has created new jobs, according to research from the Lloyds Business Barometer, as firms increasingly view AI adoption as central to growth, skills and competitiveness. 58% of businesses say they plan to increase investment in AI to upskill their workforce in the coming year. Of those increasing investment, 42% expect to spend between £25,000 and £100,000, while 26% expect to spend between £100,000 and £250,000. While 54% of businesses say their workforce has the AI skills needed, 31% say it does not. The top four responses given indicate that firms are seeing investment in skills as a priority; 43% are looking to introduce AI skills training, 32% are expanding existing training, 24% are increasingly focusing on AI skills when hiring, and 21% are creating new AI-specific roles. Overall, 61% of firms say they currently use AI, with just under half (46%) of domestically focused businesses more likely to use the technology, compared to 63%...

The British Pound eased on Tuesday after UK unemployment held above forecasts and private-sector wage growth slowed to a near six-year low. Pound Sterling's early losses stayed contained on Tuesday as investors weighed a softer jobs backdrop against headline pay growth that narrowly beat forecasts. Latest — Exchange Rates: Pound to Euro (GBP/EUR): 1.168953 (-0.06%) Pound to Dollar (GBP/USD): 1.352836 (-0.16%) Euro to Dollar (EUR/USD): 1.157306 (-0.10%) The Office for National Statistics said the unemployment rate was 4.9% in the three months to June, unchanged from the previous period but above the 4.8% consensus. The ONS cautioned against over-reading short-term Labour Force Survey changes and advised assessing them alongside payrolls, vacancies and other indicators. Regular earnings growth edged up to 3.5%, versus expectations for 3.4%, while total pay growth slowed to 4.1% from a revised 4.3% and slightly exceeded the 4.0% forecast. The earnings series was revised back to the start of the series after a seasonal-adjustment review. That headline masked a sharp sector split. Regular pay growth in the private...

As hundreds of thousands of young people receive their A-level and GCSE results this month, they’re entering a labour market unlike any previous generation. AI adoption is accelerating across industries, causing concerns about what it means for entry-level roles and the career pathways that have traditionally helped young people gain experience to embark on a rewarding career.   With 13.5% of 16-24 year olds not in education, employment or training – the highest rate in the UK since 2013 – the scale of the challenge is clear.   So, what is changing and how can young people adapt as they enter the workforce? We spoke to seven business leaders to gain their perspective.   The early-career challenge  Young people aren’t out of work by chance, the number of entry-level roles has fallen considerably. In fact, graduate roles are down 45% year on year in 2026. AI has been identified as the main contributor to this decrease, but it doesn’t mean AI is totally removing entry-level jobs. For...

VASO Manufacturing and Engineering manager Jim Patterson pictured at the company’s new 60,000-square-feet manufacturing site at Irongray Park, Dumfries. Six jobs have already been created at a new factory set to start manufacturing a world-first recycled construction product later this month. VASO Global is set to launch its first production line of high-performance structural composite panels at a new factory in Dumfries which will transform housing and construction across the UK and beyond. New recruits, all from the Dumfries area, this month joined the VASO Manufacturing team headed up by highly-experienced Manufacturing and Engineering manager Jim Patterson as part of 15 jobs so far created by VASO Global. Jim, who has 35 years’ experience leading production operations for global manufacturing giants ICI and DuPont, is preparing the VASO Manufacturing plant to go live with its first of three planned production lines. Highly-skilled in delivering manufacturing solutions, Jim said: “VASO is a hugely exciting opportunity. “Working with like-minded people on such a fresh challenge which is going...

A BRITISH high street chain could close up to 100 stores just months after it axed 140 jobs as part of a major restructure, according to reports. The brand said it could not “guarantee” the future of its retail estate as a result of a challenging economic climate. The charity warned of a difficult economic climate Credit: PA:Press Association Oxfam said it is currently conducting a review of its three UK warehouses in Batley, Milton Keynes and Bicester – which employs around 90 staff members – although no decisions have yet been made to close retail locations or warehouses. The brand acknowledged it could not “give guarantees in this difficult economic climate” about the future of its store estate, however said it was “confident” about its retail performance. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! Oxfam added no concrete decision had been made to close up to 100 of its high street locations, although the review will “assess how effectively the current facilities...

In total, the investment vehicle (which was initially to be a public energy company) employs 132 people, The Times reported. There are 53 full-time employees, 31 short-term staff, and 48 on secondment from elsewhere. Of the total, 46 of the staff (35%) live outside Scotland. The figures are a shift from those reported by The National in September last year, when 69 people were employed at GB Energy, just 13 of whom (18%) were based in Aberdeen. However, they remain a long way off Labour’s pledge that GB Energy would create 1000 direct jobs in the Scottish city. READ MORE: What has GB Energy actually achieved since Labour took power? In February last year, GB Energy chair Jurgen Maier – who is based in Manchester – said it could take 20 years for the new body to employ that many people. Instead, GB Energy is now saying it expects “to employ around 300 people...

BitcoinWorldUK Jobs Data Offers Bank of England Little Reason to Hike Rates, Keeping Sterling Under Pressure The latest UK jobs data, released on [date], provides the Bank of England (BoE) with little incentive to raise interest rates, leaving the British pound vulnerable to continued pressure in currency markets. What the Jobs Data Shows The Office for National Statistics reported that wage growth slowed to [X]% in the three months to [month], down from [Y]% previously, while the unemployment rate ticked up to [Z]%. These figures suggest a cooling labor market, reducing the urgency for the BoE to tighten monetary policy further. Economists note that the data aligns with the central bank’s cautious stance, as it balances inflation concerns against weakening economic momentum. Implications for the Bank of England The BoE has held rates steady at [current rate]% since [date], and market expectations for a cut have grown. According to futures data, traders now price in a [probability]% chance of a rate cut at the next meeting...

Young people in the UK can now apply to train as train drivers from the age of 18, following a change to the rules that came into effect in June. The change means school and college leavers can pursue train driver training without needing a university degree or having to wait until they are 20. The measure is intended to widen access to rail careers while helping address workforce shortages. Law change tackles train driver shortages while helping young people secure stable, skilled and well-paid jobs© Canva The change comes as students across the UK receive their GCSE results, with train driving now among the career options available to those choosing to enter employment or vocational training after school. The rail industry currently has a relatively small proportion of younger drivers. Fewer than 4% of train drivers are under 30, while fewer than 12% are women. Around a quarter of the current train driver workforce is also expected to reach retirement age by 2030. Reducing...