Overview

• Job vacancies fell 5% in mid-June compared with late March, leaving overall postings 21% below pre-pandemic levels.
• Graduate-level roles are at their weakest point since 2018 with listings down roughly one-third year-on-year.
• Private sector pay settlements held at 3% through May, trailing the 3.4% inflation rate, according to Brightmine.
• Employers cite April’s rise in social security contributions and the impact of AI on certain roles when pausing mid-level and entry-level hiring.
• The UK is the only advanced economy tracked by Indeed with job openings still below pre-pandemic volumes.