Labour Market Tracker: Job market steady, but weak summer shows need for Autumn Budget boost - REC

• The number of new job postings in the UK in August 2025 was 661,639 – down by 3.8% from July 2025.
• The overall number of active job postings was 1,447,620 – a decrease of 1.6% on the number of job postings in July 2025.
• August is typically a slow month for hiring because of annual leave, seasonal lull outside tourism and hospitality and businesses delaying budgeting until the autumn.
• When comparing regions Northern Ireland (2.9%) and the East Midlands (0.8%) showed the highest increase in the total number of job postings.

New job postings declined marginally in August 2025, while total active job posts remain above 1.4 million, according to the latest Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) monthly Labour Market Tracker.

The number of new job postings in the UK in August 2025 was 661,639 – down by 3.8% from July 2025. And the overall number of active job postings was 1,447,620 – a decrease of 1.6% on the number of job postings in July 2025.

The fall in new and active job postings in August 2025 is typical of this time of year. It mirrors August 2024 when summer holidays affected the pace of hiring. After all, the number of overall active postings in August 2024 was a decrease of 2.4% on the number of postings in July 2024, and new job postings in August 2024 was a 2.2% decline from July 2024.

Summer seasonal hiring was slow this year, and last year’s Budget decisions hurt some sectors making too many firms cautious about recruitment, but the job market proved resilient. With the right signals from the upcoming Budget, employers could regain confidence and hiring could pick up again before the end of the year.

REC Chief Executive Neil Carberry said:

“The typical August slowdown did not help the job market recover from a slow start to summer seasonal hiring. The last Budget’s blows to business clearly landed, especially on hospitality firms, a key gateway into work. Even so, job postings remain above 1.4 million, with opportunities across logistics, finance, IT, education and health. With the Treasury signalling investment and reforms in the next Budget, some businesses may get a timely boost as they gear up for festive demand later in the year.

“Looking past the seasonal dip, the UK’s fiscal outlook and longer-term prospects remain solid, bolstered by the likelihood of further American investment linked to the US President’s State Visit. A short-lived lull in hiring should not distract us from the underlying strength of our labour market. If the government pursues its employment agenda pragmatically, and the Chancellor avoids pulling any unwelcome surprises out of the Budget-day hat, employers will have the stability to help the labour market shake off its summer slumber.”

Today’s Labour Market Tracker shows a decrease in job postings this month for Clergy (-28.9%), Dental Practitioners (-30.6%) and Authors, Writers and Translators (-39.9%).

Actors, Entertainers and Presenters (48.5%), Train and Tram Drivers (28.8%) and Plasterers (23.9%) all showed the largest increase in roles from July to August 2025.

Mid Ulster (14.7%), Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (12.6%) and Clackmannanshire and Fife (9.9%) showed the highest increase in job postings.

Causeway Coast and Glens (-14.3%), West Sussex (North East) (-14.9%) and Isle of Wight (-16.4%) all accounted for the sharpest decline in job postings.

Summer hiring trends:

This analysis takes the average active job posting number from June, July and August 2025 and compares this to the same period in 2024.

Hospitality:

Down by 21.2% from summer 2024, the summer 2025 average posting is 87,665. There were no roles in the hospitality sector that saw an increase as compared to last year.

But when looking more closely at the data for this year, job adverts for Waiters and Waitresses increased by 13.0% in August 2025 as compared to July 2025. In the same time frame Chefs saw an 8.4% increase and Restaurant and Catering Establishment Managers and Proprietors saw a 7.2% increase.

Tourism:

At 15,782 active postings on average for the period spanning June 2025 to August 2025, there was a 15.8% decline from summer 2024 to summer 2025. Managers and Directors in the Creative Industries was the only role to see an increase as compared to last year (9.9%).

Construction:

Construction roles dipped by 9.0% from summer 2024 to summer 2025. Notable exceptions from the downward trend include Rail Construction and Maintenance Operatives which rose by 8.3% in Summer 2025 compared to summer 2024 and Production Managers and Directors in Mining and Energy where job adverts rose by 19.0% in that comparison period.

Agriculture:

Agriculture roles also saw a decline (-11.0%) in the number of jobs advertised in summer 2025 as compared to last summer. But Forestry Workers saw a 10.4% increase as compared to last year.

Ends

Notes to editors:

1.              The Labour Market Tracker is produced by the REC in partnership with Lightcast, using their Job Postings Analytics data which is harvested from tens of thousands of job boards. Data was harvested in August 2025. 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