Labour Market Tracker: Signs of stability in job ad postings after summer holiday slowdown - REC

• The number of new job postings in the UK in September 2025 was 742,967 – up by 11.3% from August 2025 as firms began hiring processes after the summer.
• This was reflected in the overall number of active job postings in September, which was 1,638,924 – an increase of 10.6% on the number of job postings in August 2025.
• Looking back to last year, there was also some good news, as active postings were 5.5% higher in September 2025 than in the same month last year.
• When comparing different parts of the UK, Northern Ireland (18.7%) and the North West (13.2%) showed the highest increase in the total number of job postings.

There was a solid bounce back in job postings in September after the traditional summer holiday slowdown, according to the latest Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) monthly Labour Market Tracker.

The number of new job postings in the UK in September 2025 was 742,967 – up by 11.3% from August 2025. And the overall number of active job postings was 1,638,924 – an increase of 10.6% on the number of job postings in August 2025. Overall, the job market remains resilient with active job postings staying steady above 1.4 million.

A rise in September activity is not a given: in September 2024, there were 1,544,753 active job postings, which is 9.6% fewer than in August 2024, reflecting the slowdown in the market we saw last year. By contrast, between September 2024 and September 2025, postings rose by 5.5%, indicating a more stable picture on hiring starting to emerge.

REC Chief Executive Neil Carberry said:

“Recruiters reported a trickle of hiring firms coming back to the market in September, especially in the Midlands and the North. This data appears to back this up. While small, this bounce back is solid, and especially encouraging for an embattled hospitality sector and roles in logistics and light industrial work. Both of these are associated with employers beginning to prepare for a busy festive season.

“To build a trickle of new hiring into a river, employers will need to feel more confident in the economic outlook. That is why the upcoming Budget needs to back business, not burden it. That means no unaffordable tax hikes, sensible updates to the Employment Rights Bill to ensure it is deliverable, genuine support for flexible working and action to fix the recruitment costs fuelled by the NHS’s anti-agency measures.”

Today’s Labour Market Tracker shows an increase in job postings this month for Postal Workers, Mail Sorters, Messengers and Couriers (108.1%), Head Teachers and Principals (57.5%) and Educational Support Assistants (39.8%)

But Registered Specialist Nurses (-11.0%), Optometrists (-13.7%) and Midwifery Nurses (-16.5%) all showed the largest decrease in roles from August to September 2025.

Causeway Coast and Glens (40.5%), Fermanagh and Omagh (40.0%) and Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (38.2%) showed the highest increase in job postings.

Meanwhile, Tower Hamlets (-7.8%), Camden and City of London (-13.9%) and Westminster (-14.2%) all accounted for the sharpest decline in job postings.

Sector trends:

Hospitality:

The number of total hospitality job postings increased by 11.0% from August to September 2025.

The highest increase in job postings included: Leisure and Sports Managers and Proprietors (25.7%),  Waiters and Waitresses (18.1%) and Bar and Catering Supervisors (12.1%), which follows a 13.0% increase in job postings for Waiters and Waitresses in August 2025.

Blue Collar:

Blue collar roles increased by 9.2% from August to September 2025. Packers, Bottlers, Canners and Fillers (27.7%), Assemblers (25.9%) and Fork-lift Truck Drivers (16.9%) all up.

Finance:

Finance roles increased by 12.9% from August to September 2025. Chartered and Certified Accountants (19.0%), Data Analysts (18.8%) and Financial Administrative Occupations n.e.c. (18.5%).

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 September 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