Labour Market Updates

Unemployment Climbs Again as the Jobs Market Weakens

In the three months to September 2025, unemployment and redundancy levels both rose while the number of employed people and payrolled employees fell, vacancy levels plateaued, and wage growth in the private sector is gradually falling. Consequently, the labour market picture is fundamentally the same, and the jobs market is continuing to show signs of weakening.

Nov 11, 2025

Vacancy Numbers Plateau and Unemployment Levels Rise to Highest Level in Four Years

Vacancy Numbers Plateau and Unemployment Levels Rise to Highest Level in Four Years

Oct 14, 2025

The Labour Market Continues to cool and Vacancies Fall Again

In the three months to July 2025, unemployment and employment levels both rose, the economic inactivity level and rate fell, and strong wage growth continued to present signs of slowing.

Sep 16, 2025

The Job Market Continues to Present Signs of Weakening

In the three months to June 2025, unemployment and employment levels rose, the economic inactivity level and economic inactivity rate both fell, and strong wage growth continued to present signs of slowing.

Aug 12, 2025

Unemployment continues to rise while wage growth slows

This month’s figures continue to present signs of a cooling labour market: vacancies are continuing to drop, unemployment levels rose, and nominal regular wage growth has plateaued back to 5% after intermittently hovering at 6% over the past year.

Jul 17, 2025

Unemployment rises to highest level in almost four years, and the jobs market continues to show signs of weakening

In the quarter to April 2025, wage growth across the economy remained strong, but is weaker compared to recent months. Unemployment and employment levels both rose (unemployment notably so), and economic inactivity fell, but still sits above 9 million.

Jun 11, 2025

Wage growth plateaus but remains strong, while vacancy levels continue to dip

In the three months to March 2025, wage growth across the economy remained strong and, while wages continued to rise in nominal and real terms, the rate of wage growth is showing signs of slowing.

May 14, 2025

Employment and unemployment levels continue to rise, while vacancies fall to lowest level in almost four years

In the three months to February 2025, wage growth across the economy showed signs of plateauing but remains strong, unemployment and employment levels both increased, while inactivity fell but is still stubbornly high.

Apr 15, 2025

Wage growth stabilises but remains strong, while youth unemployment levels continue to climb

In the quarter to January 2025, wage growth across the economy remained strong, unemployment and employment levels increased, and economic inactivity has continued to fall but remains high.

Mar 20, 2025

Regular wage growth continues to climb, while employment and unemployment levels increase

In the quarter to December 2024, wage growth across the economy remained strong, unemployment and employment levels increased, and economic inactivity marginally fell but remains high.

Feb 18, 2025

Wage growth persists while employment figures continue to paint a mixed picture

In the quarter to November 2024, wage growth across the economy remained strong, unemployment and employment levels both increased, and economic inactivity marginally fell but remains high.

Jan 21, 2025

Wage growth remains strong and vacancies edge closer to pre-pandemic levels

In the period between August and October 2024, wage growth across the economy remained strong, employment and unemployment levels both increased, while vacancies and inactivity fell.

Dec 17, 2024

Vacancies continue to decline while inactivity marginally falls

In the period between July and September 2024, wage growth across the economy remained strong, employment and unemployment levels both increased, while vacancies and inactivity both fell. The data continues to paint a mixed picture of the labour market, with conditions cooling but limited labour pool hindering business’s ability to grow.

Nov 12, 2024

Employment rises and vacancies fall, as the labour market continues to soften

In the period between June and August 2024, wage growth across the economy remained strong, the employment rate increased, and high inactivity rate persisted. This paints a mixed picture of the labour market, with conditions cooling but limited labour pool hindering business’s ability to grow.

Oct 15, 2024

The labour market softens

The labour market continues to send mixed signals with a continued softening of hiring intentions and vacancies, but easing pay pressures and a small decrease in long-term sickness for the fourth month in a row.

Sep 10, 2024

Unemployment Falls Marginally

The labour market shows a gradual slowdown, with vacancies still above pre-pandemic levels, while pay rates remain high due to last year's inflation.

Aug 14, 2024

The labour market continues to cool

This month's labour market figures continue to show signs of gradual cooling, with the number of vacancies still falling and unemployment rising.

Jul 18, 2024

The labour market continues to show signs of cooling

This month’s figures continue to show signs that the labour market may be cooling. The number of vacancies continues to fall and unemployment is rising

Jun 11, 2024

Unemployment and inactivity rise while pay plateaus (May)

The latest ONS data shows a largely unchanged labour market that remains tight overall but continues to slowly soften.

May 14, 2024

Unemployment and inactivity rise while pay plateaus

The latest ONS data covers the period from January to March 2024 and shows a largely unchanged labour market that remains tight overall but continues to slowly soften.

Apr 16, 2024

Growth in employment falls while economic inactivity increases

The latest ONS data covers the period from December 2023 to February 2024 and shows a largely unchanged labour market that remains tight overall but continues to slowly soften.

Mar 12, 2024

Growth In employment slows while economic Inactivity Increases

The latest ONS data covers the period from November 2023 to January 2024 and shows a labour market that remains tight overall but continues to slowly soften. Growth in employment has slowed while economic inactivity has increased.

Feb 13, 2024

Pay growth slows while vacancies continue to fall

The latest ONS data covers the period from October to December 2023 and shows a labour market that remains tight overall but continues to slowly soften.

Jan 16, 2024

Pay growth softens while vacancies continue to fall

The latest ONS data cover the period from September to November 2023 and show a labour market that remains tight overall but continues to soften.

Dec 13, 2023

The Labour Market Continues To Soften With Unemployment Increasing And Vacancies Falling

The latest ONS data cover the period from June to August 2023 and show a labour market that continues to soften.

Oct 24, 2023

Wages outpace inflation while unemployment increases and vacancies continue to fall

The latest ONS data cover the period from May to July 2023 and show a labour market that remains tight but with increasing signs of softening.

Sep 14, 2023

Pay rises faster than inflation for the first time in almost two years, while economic inactivity and vacancies continue to fall

The latest ONS data cover the period from April to June 2023 and show a labour market that continues to softening, with the employment rate decreasing, unemployment increasing, and economic inactivity and vacancies both falling. However, real time Pay-As-You-Earn data for July 2023 showed that the number of payrolled employees increased by 97,000 to 30.2 million.

Aug 15, 2023

Wage growth remains strong while economic inactivity and vacancies continue to fall

The latest ONS data cover the period from March to May 2023 and show a labour market that remains tight but continues to cool down, with employment and unemployment rates both increasing and economic inactivity and vacancies both falling.

Jul 11, 2023

Economic inactivity decreases, vacancies continue to fall but shortages are still a brake on growth

The latest ONS data cover the period from February to April 2023 and show a labour market that remains tight but continues to soften,

Jun 13, 2023

Labour market remains tight but vacancies continue to fall

The latest ONS data cover the period from January to March 2023 and portray a labour market that continues to show signs of softening,

May 19, 2023

Economic inactivity falls but long-term sickness reaches record high

The latest ONS data cover the period from November 2022 to January 2023 and show a labour market that continues to show signs of softening,

Mar 14, 2023

Strong pay growth fails to keep pace with inflation

The latest ONS data cover the period from October to December 2022 and show a labour market that is continuing to show early signs of softening.

Feb 15, 2023

Number of vacancies softens and record pay growth fails to keep pace with inflation

The latest ONS data cover the period from September to November 2022 and show a labour market that is starting to evidence early signs of softening.

Jan 17, 2023

Labour market remains tight but the number of vacancies keeps falling

The latest ONS data cover the period from August to October 2022 and show a labour market that remains tight, with the employment rate slightly increasing, economic inactivity decreasing and vacancies falling for the fifth quarter in a row.

Dec 13, 2022

Labour market remains tight as inflation erodes record pay growth

The latest ONS data cover the period from July to September 2022 and show a labour market that remains tight, with the employment rate decreasing, unemployment decreasing, economic inactivity rising sharply and vacancies falling for the fourth quarter in a row.

Nov 16, 2022

Further increase in economic inactivity as pay growth continues to fall

The latest ONS data cover the period from June to August 2022

Oct 12, 2022

Sharp increase in economic inactivity as talent pools shrink across the board

The latest ONS data covers the period from May to July 2022 and shows a labour market that is plateauing.

Sep 13, 2022

Real pay growth continues to fall amid worsening cost of living crisis

The latest ONS data covers the period from April to June 2022.

Aug 17, 2022

Real pay growth continues to disappoint leading to a squeeze on pay packets

The latest ONS data cover the period from March 2022 to May 2022 and shows a continued tightening of the labour market.

Jul 20, 2022

Pay Growth Continues To Disappoint And Falls Further Behind Inflation

The latest ONS data cover the period from March 2022 to May 2022 and shows a continued tightening of the labour market.

Jun 15, 2022

Labour market continues to tighten but pay growth falls further behind inflation

The latest ONS data covers the period from January 2022 to March 2022, providing a snapshot of labour market activity.

May 18, 2022

Labour Market Continues To Create Jobs But Pay Growth Fails To Keep Up With Inflation

The latest ONS data covers the period from December 2021 to February 2022, providing a snapshot of labour market activity.

Apr 13, 2022

Employment Rate Continues To Rise But Pay Growth Remains Below Inflation

The latest ONS data covers the period from November 2021 to January 2022, providing a snapshot of labour market activity

Mar 16, 2022

Employment Rate Increases But Pay Growth Falls Behind Inflation

The latest ONS data covers the period from October to December 2021, providing a snapshot of labour market activity.

Feb 15, 2022

Labour Market Continues Strong Recovery, But Real Pay Falls

The latest ONS data covers the period from September to November 2021, providing a snapshot of labour market activity.

Jan 19, 2022