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Thu, 18 Jun 2026

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 Number of job vacancies hits five year-low

Latest figures suggest companies are becoming more cautious about taking on new staff.

* Job vacancies have fallen to a five-year low, with 707,000 available in the March to May period.
* Firms are becoming more cautious about taking on new staff, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
* The professional services sector saw the largest fall in vacancies, followed by retail and hospitality.
* New recruits have also reached a five-year low, with just under 540,000 'inflows' in April.
* The unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.9% in the three months to April, from 5% in March.
* Regular pay grew at an annual rate of 3.4% in the three months to April, but this was unchanged from the previous period.
* Private sector wage growth is slowing, with the lowest rate in five and a half years.
* Pubs and restaurants are now only hiring people with several years' experience due to rising costs.
* Cutting VAT could help ease pressure on businesses and allow them to train young people.
* The labour market is not proving a major contributor to inflation, with private sector wage growth easing.