Labour Market Tracker: Job market largely holds up despite ongoing pressures on employers – REC

• There was a total of 1,615,532 active job postings in May, representing a 0.8% rise compared to April. There was also an 8% year-on-year increase in the number of active job postings.
• The total number of new job postings for May was 683,121, a -4% decrease since April and a -9.2% year-on-year decrease.
• Only London experienced a contraction in active job postings this month.
• The top hiring hotspots, based on growth in active job postings in May, were: Mid Ulster (32.7%), Newry, Mourne and Down (30.1%), and Causeway Coast and Glens (28.7%).
• Of the top 10 counties with the most growth in active postings, only one is in England.
• The sharpest declines in job postings for counties were recorded in Westminster (-40%), Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham (-38.2%), and Lambeth (-34.5%). This may be down to the two May Bank holidays disrupting normal hiring.
• The total number of active job postings is now back to a similar level as seen in March, indicating that there may be stabilisation in the face of geopolitical factors.

The number of new and existing UK job postings held broadly steady in May 2026, according to the latest Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) monthly Labour Market Tracker.

This highlights the resilience of the UK labour market against the backdrop of ongoing political uncertainty, legislative changes and Gulf tensions. With a US-Iran ceasefire deal on the table, firms might have more confidence to push ahead with hiring. But any acceleration in recruitment is likely to be gradual. Ongoing political uncertainty in the UK, an unwieldy Employment Rights Act and higher business and employment costs this year, are likely to limit the pace of expansion without clearer signals on where domestic growth is coming from.

It is too early to draw conclusions about summer hiring. This is because two May Bank holidays disrupt usual patterns of hiring. There was a significant increase in demand for certain roles in hospitality, agriculture and retail. But next month’s data will give a clearer picture of the scale of any seasonal pick-up.

REC Chief Membership and Innovation Officer Maxine Bligh said:

“Any sign of an Iran–US agreement will ease one of the global pressures holding back hiring and investment. But domestic political uncertainty and looming employment law changes still leave many firms without the confidence they need to accelerate recruitment. We are likely to see some growth in the job market, but not at full speed, with many businesses continuing to rely on temporary staff until the outlook becomes clearer.

“The government must calm the cost pressures that are shaping every recruitment decision if it wants firms to invest in hiring. Flexibility is essential. Removing the threat of overly restrictive guaranteed hours rules would give employers far greater confidence across all sectors. Exempting agencies from these rules would help businesses manage economic uncertainty more effectively by enabling them to bring in agency workers when they need them.”

This month’s Labour Market Tracker shows that the top three occupations with an increase in job postings, when compared to April 2026, were Driving Instructors (48.7%), Dental Practitioners (42.8%), and Welfare and Housing Associate Professionals n.e.c. (33.6%).

But Exam Invigilators (-47%), Nannies and Au Pairs (-43.8%), and Air Transport Operatives (-23.5%) had the largest drop in active job postings.

Mid Ulster (32.7%), Newry, Mourne and Down (30.1%), Causeway Coast and Glens (28.7%), Fermanagh and Omagh (24.6%), and Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (23.4%) all saw the largest increases in active job postings from April to May 2026.

Conversely, Westminster (-40%), Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham (-38.2%), Lambeth (-34.5%), Haringey and Islington (-28.4%), and Wandsworth (-26.1%) all saw contractions in the number of active job postings from April to May 2026.

Sectors:

This month’s Labour Market Tracker looks at Agriculture, Retail and Hospitality

Hospitality:

Hospitality-related occupations have 47,850 active job postings, which is a -5.3% decrease from April to May 2026. Year-on-year, there has been a 0.3% increase in active job postings, with May 2025 postings at 48,004 jobs.

The occupations with the most growth when comparing April to May 2026 were Chefs (22.9%), Restaurant and Catering Establishment Managers and Proprietors (17.3%), Catering and Bar Managers (11.3%), Sports and Leisure Assistants (10.8%) and Hotel and Accommodation Managers and Proprietors (9.6%).

The occupations with the largest contraction were Waiters and Waitresses (-7.6%), Cooks (-6.3%), Bar Staff (-5.6%), Leisure and Sports Managers and Proprietors (-5.2%), and Leisure and Travel Service Occupations n.e.c. (-4.3%).

Retail:

Retail saw a -2% decrease in the number of active job postings for the month of May. This was a decrease from 30,232 in April to 29,624 in May. This is also a -7% decrease from the same time last year.

The occupations which saw the greatest increases were Shopkeepers and Owners – Retail and Wholesale (12.2%), Managers and Directors in Retail and Wholesale (9.1%), Managers and Proprietors in Other Services n.e.c. (7.1%), and Vehicle and Parts Salespersons and Advisers (6.8%).

The jobs with the greatest contraction over this period were: Importers and Exporters (-6.2%), Elementary Storage Occupations n.e.c. (-4.9%), Elementary Sales Occupations n.e.c. (-4.1%), Managers and Proprietors in Agriculture and Horticulture (-2.8%), and Customer Service Supervisors (-2.3%).

Agriculture:

Agriculture-related occupations saw a -1.3% drop in job postings for the month of May, with the total number of job postings decreasing to 3,709 in May from 3,759 in April. There was also a -4.3% drop in job postings when comparing May 2025 to May 2026.

The occupations with the largest increases in active job postings were Forestry Workers (15.6%), Agricultural and Fishing Trades n.e.c. (9%), and Farmers (8.3%).

The occupations with the largest contraction were Farm Workers (-4.4%), Biological Scientists (-0.1%), and Chemical and Related Process Operatives (0.7%).

Ends

Notes to editors:

1.               The Labour Market Tracker is produced by the REC using Lightcast Job Postings Analytics data which were harvested from tens of thousands of job boards. Data was harvested in June 2026. For more details, see the attached annexes which, in league table format, detail the top and bottom ten county/unitary authorities for growth in job postings and growth by occupation type.

2.              ‘Active’ job postings are those which were live online during the specified time period. ‘New’ job postings are those which were added to the active stock during the specified time period.

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About the REC

The REC is the voice of the recruitment industry, speaking up for great recruiters. We drive standards and empower recruitment businesses to build better futures for great candidates and themselves. We are champions of an industry which is fundamental to the strength of the UK economy.

Find out more about the Recruitment & Employment Confederation at www.rec.uk.com.

About Lightcast

Lightcast (formerly Emsi Burning Glass) provides trusted global labour market data, analytics, and expert guidance that empowers communities, corporations, and learning providers to make informed decisions and navigate the increasingly complex world of work. With a database of more than one billion job postings and career profiles, our team provides best-in-class customer service with robust data, clear analysis, and expert guidance on skills, jobs, and opportunities.

Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, and Moscow, Idaho, Lightcast is active in more than 30 countries and has offices in the United Kingdom, Italy, New Zealand, and India. The company is backed by global private equity leader KKR. For more, visit www.lightcast.io/uk.

ANNEXES

Top ten and bottom ten county/unitary authorities for growth in job postings:

Top ten and bottom ten occupations by growth in job postings:

Key indicator occupations