Labour Market Tracker: Traditional December dip in hiring lower than previous year: Government must act to build business confidence - REC

• The total number of active job postings in December 2025 stood at 1,311,956, representing an 11.1% decrease from November 2025. Such falls are typical in the run-up to Christmas.
• Of more concern was the drop of 7.1% from December 2024, which was affected by the same seasonal factors.
• The top five hiring hotspots, based on growth in active job postings, were Isle of Anglesey (27.0%), Dumfries and Galloway (19.7%), Scottish Borders (18.7%), Northumberland (16.7%), and Causeway Coast and Glens (16.3%).
• The sharpest declines in job postings were recorded in Torbay (-17.2%), Dudley (-17.4%), West Sussex (North East) (-18.6%), East Surrey (-23.9%), and the Isle of Wight (-26.9%).
• Six of the top ten local areas with the strongest growth in job postings were in Scotland, while six of the bottom ten were located in South East England.
• The number of new job postings in the UK fell to 573,597 in December, down 8.2% month-on-month, a seasonal pattern typical for this time of year.
• REC reveals the fastest growing and fastest slowing vacancies for occupations in 2025.

There were more than 1.3m active job postings in December 2025, down on that same time last year, according to the latest Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) and Lightcast Labour Market Tracker.

The number of overall active postings in December 2025 was 1,311,956, a decrease of 11.1% on the number of job postings in November 2025. The number of new job postings in the UK was 573,597 – down by 8.2% on last month. Big falls from November to December are seasonally typical.

REC Chief Executive Neil Carberry said:

“The late Budget meant that few firms had time to put revised hiring plans into place before the Christmas break, contributing to a sharper December downturn than usual. All eyes are now on January for signs of recovery. There is some optimism for hiring in employer survey data, but it is persuading firms to take the leap that matters. Even so, jobseekers still enjoyed plenty of choice with total new postings last month roughly matching the population of Edinburgh.

“There is a startling variety in the occupations that grew in demand in 2025, although they loosely relate to key trends for the year ahead in infrastructure, net zero and demographic changes. The sharpest declines in job postings last year hit roles most exposed to automation, digitalisation and cost pressures.

“If the government wants firms to have confidence to grow, it needs more than interest rate tweaks. It must champion enterprise and investment, make its industrial strategy more impactful, tackle soaring costs such as energy and avoid tax hikes that stall growth.”

Today’s Labour Market Tracker shows that the top three occupations with an increase in job postings in December 2025, compared to November 2025, were Teaching Professionals n.e.c. (39.9%), Electrical Service and Maintenance Mechanics and Repairers (13.8%) and Air Transport Operatives (8.4%).

But Painters and Decorators (-29.6%), Actors, Entertainers and Presenters (-30.0%) and Postal Workers, Mail Sorters, Messengers and Couriers (-31.7%) showed the largest decrease in roles from November to December 2025. This suggests such roles were filled in November ahead of the festive period.

Isle of Anglesey (27.0%), Dumfries and Galloway (19.7%), Scottish Borders (18.7%), Northumberland (16.7%), and Causeway Coast and Glens (16.3%) showed the biggest increase in active job postings.

Meanwhile, Torbay (-17.2%), Dudley (-17.4%), West Sussex (North East)            (-18.6%), East Surrey (-23.9%), and Isle of Wight (-26.9%) accounted for the sharpest decline in job postings.

Sectors:

As expected, and as the industry has seen for the past few years, December is the slowest month for posting job roles. This happens as most industries have either already hired for the festive period or begin to wind down.

Blue Collar:

There were nearly 61,366 job postings in the Blue Collar sector in December 2025. This is a 13.1% decline from November 2025. The most in-demand (or with the least decline) roles when we compare November 2025 to December 2025 are Electrical Service and Maintenance Mechanics and Repairers (13.8%), Aircraft Maintenance and Related Trades (0.9%), Production Managers and Directors in Manufacturing (-5.5%).

Health and Social Care:

There were nearly 183,388 job postings in the health and social care sector in December 2025. This is an 8.1% decline from November 2025. The most in-demand roles when we compare November 2025 to December 2025 are Dental Nurse (7.3%), and Psychotherapists and Cognitive Behaviour Therapists (5.6%).

Engineering:

There were nearly 125,349 job postings in the Engineering sector in December 2025. This is a 11% decline from November 2025. The most in-demand (or with the least decline) roles when we compare November 2025 to December 2025 are Electrical Service and Maintenance Mechanics and Repairers (13.8%), Aircraft Maintenance and Related Trades (0.9%), and Research and Development (R&D) Managers (-3.2%).

Top ten: new job postings that saw the highest increase in 2025 compared to 2024 were:

• ·       Train and Tram Drivers (87.4%)
• ·       Road Transport Drivers n.e.c. (45.9%)
• ·       Early Education and Childcare Services Managers (41.0%)
• ·       Stonemasons and Related Trades (40.5%)
• ·       Business Sales Executives (36.5%)
• ·       Collector Salespersons and Credit Agents (30.7%)
• ·       Road Construction Operatives (27.9%)
• ·       Undertakers, Mortuary and Crematorium Assistants (26.3%)
• ·       Environment Professionals (26.1%)
• ·       Psychotherapists and Cognitive Behaviour Therapists (25.4%)

Bottom ten: new job postings that had the biggest declines in 2025 compared to 2024 were:

• ·       Retail Cashiers and Check-out Operators (-29.6%)
• ·       Veterinarians (-31.6%)
• ·       Pensions and Insurance Clerks and Assistants (-31.7%)
• ·       Veterinary Nurses (-33.9%)
• ·       Market Research Interviewers (-34.1%)
• ·       Dispensing Opticians (-36.4%)
• ·       Driving Instructors (-38.9%)
• ·       Stock Control Clerks and Assistants (-40.2%)
• ·       Delivery Operatives (-53.4%)
• ·       Childminders (-77.0%)

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 January 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.

3.              For a full list of the comparison of new job postings in 2025 to 2024, contact the REC press office.

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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