Category: JOBS

LONDON: Artificial intelligence (AI) has raised the stakes of taking your first step up the career ladder – and made it tougher and costlier than ever. Georgie Blackburn, a Gloucestershire-based career coach, is one of the few beneficiaries. In a two-decade career advising everyone from senior executives to military leavers, she said most of her clients today are young people fresh out of university, up from just one in 10 two years ago. “I have seen it as a growth area for my business,” said Blackburn, whose early-careers services can cost up to £750 (US$1,010) and may direct people to volunteer work, internships or online courses to build experience. “A degree is not enough on its own, never has been, but even more so today.”The situation is particularly dire in Britain, where a youth-unemployment rate of 16.4% is the highest in a decade, and is rising faster than in any other G-7 country. The graduate premium over the minimum wage has been...

Morrisons, headquartered in Bradford, reported the reductions in its latest financial accounts, which show that its average monthly workforce fell from 101,144 to 96,232 in the year to October last year. This marks a loss of 4,912 jobs across the business. The job losses included more than 4,200 store positions, with additional cuts in food manufacturing and distribution. Nearly 5,000 jobs were lost at Morrisons last year A spokesman for Morrisons said: "Colleague numbers in the year ending October 2025 primarily reflect the impact of the closure of the newspaper home delivery service in convenience, the restructuring of the retail people team and the downsizing of the Rathbones bakery business. "There was no additional redundancy programme in stores, where numbers were only reduced by not replacing those who had chosen to leave." The cuts come as the company...

The latest U.K. unemployment figures show the rate remains at 4.9 per cent as Britain’s jobs market stagnates Vacancies are also falling Meanwhile the figures also show private sector pay growth at fallen to its lowest in six years and stands in contrast to a 6.1pc increase for the average public sector worker in the same period. Ben Harrison, Director, Work Foundation at Lancaster University said on the figures: Today’s figures indicate the UK remains trapped in a deepening jobs drought. Vacancies have fallen to the lowest level outside of the Covid-19 pandemic since 2014, and young people are facing some of the toughest conditions for finding work in more than a decade. “Unemployment remains unchanged at 4.9%, but the headline figure masks a particularly difficult jobs market for young people. Youth unemployment among 16-24 year olds now stands at 16.2% with nearly three quarters of a million young people out of work and looking for a job. “At the same time, vacancies...

The British Pound (GBP) faces selling pressure against the Japanese Yen (JPY) after the release of the United Kingdom (UK) labor market data for three months ending in June, dropping to near 215.95.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has reported that the economy created 83K fresh jobs, lower than 147K in the quarter ending May. The ILO Unemployment Rate remains steady at 4.9%, while it was expected to arrive lower at 4.8%.Average Earnings Excluding Bonuses, a key measure of wage growth, rose at a faster pace of 3.5% YoY vs. estimates and the prior release of 3.4%. The wage growth measure including Bonuses grew in line with 4.1% projections, slower than the previous reading of 4.4%, revised higher from 4.3%.Meanwhile, investors brace for more volatility in the British Pound this week as the UK Consumer Price Index (CPI) data is scheduled to be published on Wednesday. The data is expected to show that headline inflation accelerated to 2.9% Year-on-Year (YoY)...

Morrisons, headquartered in Bradford, reported the reductions in its latest financial accounts, which show that its average monthly workforce fell from 101,144 to 96,232 in the year to October last year. This marks a loss of 4,912 jobs across the business. The job losses included more than 4,200 store positions, with additional cuts in food manufacturing and distribution. Nearly 5,000 jobs were lost at Morrisons last year A spokesman for Morrisons said: "Colleague numbers in the year ending October 2025 primarily reflect the impact of the closure of the newspaper home delivery service in convenience, the restructuring of the retail people team and the downsizing of the Rathbones bakery business. "There was no additional redundancy programme in stores, where numbers were only reduced by not replacing those who had chosen to leave." The cuts come as the company...

The number of payrolled employees in the UK dropped by 13 thousand to 30.3 million in July 2026, following a revised decline of 13 thousand in June.Compared with a year earlier, employment fell by 0.3%, or 94 thousand.The wholesale and retail sector recorded the biggest annual decline in payroll employment, shedding 75,000 jobs, whereas the administrative and support services sector recorded the largest increase, adding 63,000 employees.Across NUTS3 regions, Camden and City of London experienced a decrease of 1.8% in payrolled employees, while Mid Ulster recorded a 1.5% increase.Meanwhile, median monthly pay rose by 4.2% year-on-year to £2,642, easing slightly from a 4.3% increase in June.Growth in median pay was highest in the health and social work sector (+5.3%) and lowest in the education sector (+3.3%). Source link...

Nearly 5,000 jobs were lost last year as part of cost-cutting efforts at one of the UK's largest supermarket chains.Morrisons, headquartered in Bradford, reported the reductions in its latest financial accounts, which show that its average monthly workforce fell from 101,144 to 96,232 in the year to October last year.This marks a loss of 4,912 jobs across the business.The job losses included more than 4,200 store positions, with additional cuts in food manufacturing and distribution.Nearly 5,000 jobs were lost at Morrisons last yearA spokesman for Morrisons said: "Colleague numbers in the year ending October 2025 primarily reflect the impact of the closure of the newspaper home delivery service in convenience, the restructuring of the retail people team and the downsizing of the Rathbones bakery business."There was no additional redundancy programme in stores, where numbers were only reduced by not replacing those who had chosen to leave."The cuts come as the company continues a turnaround plan under chief executive Rami Baitieh,...

Most British businesses say artificial intelligence (AI) has created new roles, according to a survey that suggests firms are moving beyond experimentation and starting to reshape hiring around the technology.The Lloyds Business Barometer found a quarter of UK employers are increasingly hiring candidates with AI skills, while a fifth are creating new AI-specific roles. More broadly, 54% said the technology led to job creation.Amanda Murphy, CEO of business and commercial banking at Lloyds, said firms have to shift their focus from accessing AI to "building the skills, culture and confidence to use it effectively.”The findings underscore a shift that promises gains for firms that use AI and disruptions for workers across swathes of the labour market. The survey polled 1,200 companies in July.Online job postings point to AI creating a two-speed economy, with firms hiring senior workers who have AI skills while cutting back elsewhere as high employment costs continue to bite.Hiring for AI-exposed positions like software developers or consultants...

Key Highlights GBP/USD started a decent increase and climbed above 1.3520. A bullish trend line is forming with support near 1.3510 on the 4-hour chart. Bitcoin could continue to face heavy resistance near $64,650 and $65,500. EUR/USD gained traction and cleared the 1.1580 resistance. GBP/USD Technical Analysis The British Pound found support near 1.3440 against the US Dollar. GBP/USD started another increase above the 1.3500 resistance zone. Looking at the 4-hour chart, the pair settled above 1.3520, the 100 simple moving average (red, 4-hour), and the 200 simple moving average (green, 4-hour). The pair even attempted to settle above the 1.3565 resistance zone. On the upside, the pair is now facing a major hurdle at 1.3580. The next major resistance might be 1.3620. A close above 1.3620 could start another steady increase. In the stated case, the bulls could aim for a move to 1.3700. Any further gains might open the door for a test of 1.3750. If there is a fresh decline, the pair might find bids near...

Across UK businesses, artificial intelligence adoption is beginning to generate not just headcount reductions but new roles and demand for talent. According to Lloyds Bank's monthly "Business Barometer" survey released on the 18th, 54% of UK companies said AI has created new jobs at their organizations. Twenty-one percent have established AI-specialist positions, and 24% now weigh AI skills in hiring decisions. The survey was conducted in July among 1,200 UK companies. The findings suggest corporate perceptions of AI's employment impact are shifting from "substitution" to "creation." Talent acquisition and development emerge as new challenges A closer look at the results shows 31% of companies said their employees lack the AI skills they need, while 54% said they have the necessary capabilities. Differences by company size are pronounced: among firms with revenue exceeding £10 million (approximately $13.6 million), two-thirds said existing staff have sufficient AI skills, compared with just over half across the UK overall. Appetite for investment in workforce development is also rising. Fifty-eight...