Labour Market Tracker: UK job market sees modest growth in new postings, ‘sign more of hope than concern’ - REC
Press releases
- The number of new job postings in the UK in May 2025 was 726,084 – up by 0.3% from April 2025.
- The overall number of active job postings was 1,440,792 – a decrease of 1.8% on the number of job postings in April 2025 as older adverts rolled off websites.
- When comparing regions Scotland (9.2%) and the South West (4.7%) showed the highest increase in the total number of job postings.
New job postings rose marginally in May 2025, while total active job posts remain above 1.4 million, according to the latest Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) / Lightcast monthly Labour Market Tracker.
REC Chief Executive Neil Carberry said:
“This month’s postings data reflects both anecdote from recruiters and the core ONS workforce jobs survey – that the labour market is more stuck than going backwards. Despite the headwinds of tax rises and lower growth there seems to be some resilience. After a long jobs market slowdown, a second month of weak growth in new postings is a sign more of hope than concern.
“While the global growth picture is weaker than anyone would like, the UK is relatively well-positioned to take advantage of what opportunities there are. We are past the interest rate peak, the UK looks good value by comparison to the US, has banked progress on trade deals and has a stable legal and political picture for the next few years. With interest rates staying steady and a possibility of reductions later this year, the challenge now is to build business confidence to invest. That is why it is crucial that this month’s announcements on infrastructure and the industrial strategy set a clear plan for growth that companies can get behind, and that there are no more nasty business tax surprises. You can’t tax and regulate your way to prosperity – it takes business growth. And getting our workforce policy right – as an economic essential, not just a rights issue – will be vital. With a troubling Employment Rights Bill, a big jobs tax increase and anti-business language about agency workers in some parts of government – there is a lot to change to get us there.
“Scotland and the South West of England are particularly notable in today’s numbers, with job listings rising in these regions, likely reflecting growing demand as we move into the summer tourist season. Although early trends suggest some market shifts, we cannot yet draw firm conclusions about summer hiring. The coming weeks will play a crucial role in shaping the full picture, and yes, the good weather will help.”
Today’s Labour Market Tracker shows a decrease in job postings this month for Business Sales Executives for the second month in a row (-47.3%), Authors, Writers and Translators (-24.4%) and Dental Practitioners (-26.6%).
Delivery Drivers and Couriers (53.7%), Food, Drink and Tobacco Process Operatives (34.1%) and Business Associate Professionals (27.7%) all showed the largest increase in roles from April 2025 to May 2025.
Causeway Coast and Glens (31.1%), Dumfries and Galloway (25.7%) and Westminster for the second month in a row (38.2%) showed the highest increase in job postings.
Newry, Mourne and Down (-11.8%), Ards and North Down (-16.1%) and Camden and City of London (-20.3%) all accounted for the sharpest decline in job postings.
Sectors:
Retail:
The retail sector saw 1.5% decrease in the number of job postings from April 2025 to May 2025. The top three roles that had the highest increase were: Retail Cashiers and Check-out Operators (23.0%); Collector Salespersons and Credit Agents (3.6%); and Florists (2.5%).
The three roles with the biggest decreases in that time period were: Elementary Sales Occupations n.e.c. (-9.4%); and Telephone Salespersons for the second month in a row (-10.7%).
Hospitality:
Overall, the sector had a 4.5% decrease in the number of job postings from April to May 2025.
Food, Drink and Tobacco Process Operatives had the biggest uptick in postings, rising 34.1% from the previous month (April 2025). Other such roles to show an increase in that period include Leisure and Sports Managers and Proprietors (9.8%) and Housekeepers and Related Occupations (1.1%).
Agriculture:
There were over 5,000 Agriculture roles posted in May 2025. This is a 0.3% decrease from April 2025.
The following were the roles with the biggest increase: Forestry workers (18.7%) and Biological Scientists (1.6%).
The roles with the greatest falls in demand between April 2025 and May 2025 were Farmers (-10.5%) and Farm Workers (-6.9%).
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 May 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.
3. The stage is set – start your career with a bang (and drumroll) at a festival or concert this summer, REC, June 2025. This summer provides not just a breakthrough chance for music bands at festivals and concerts, but can also provide that big break for people to find work and begin a career in hospitality. Amid a youth worklessness crisis and a lack of workers to fill hospitality roles, people who are available to work this summer, such as those finishing school exams very soon across the UK, should look out for these job adverts going ‘live’ right now.
Media enquiries
For more information and interview enquiries, contact the REC Press Office on 020 7009 2157 or pressoffice@rec.uk.com. Outside of regular office hours, please call 07702 568 829.
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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:
|
County/unitary authority |
Unique active job postings, May 2025 |
Change in active job postings, April 2025 to May 2025 |
|
Westminster |
4,138 |
38.2% |
|
Causeway Coast and Glens |
405 |
31.1% |
|
Dumfries and Galloway |
1,500 |
25.7% |
|
Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham |
3,402 |
19.6% |
|
East Lothian and Midlothian |
2,993 |
18.2% |
|
East Aryshire |
1,511 |
17.3% |
|
Gwynedd |
1,053 |
15.0% |
|
Tower Hamlets |
2,071 |
14.9% |
|
South Nottinghamshire |
1,811 |
14.5% |
|
South Lanarkshire |
3,015 |
13.8% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coventry |
6,604 |
-8.7% |
|
Gwent Valleys |
3,068 |
-8.7% |
|
East Merseyside |
5,698 |
-8.8% |
|
Central Bedfordshire |
3,130 |
-8.8% |
|
Monmouthshire and Newport |
4,016 |
-9.5% |
|
Calderdale and Kirklees |
6,576 |
-10.9% |
|
Manchester |
27,572 |
-11.6% |
|
Newry, Mourne and Down |
959 |
-11.8% |
|
Ards and North Down |
876 |
-16.1% |
|
Camden and City of London |
4,462 |
-20.3% |
Top ten and bottom ten occupations by growth in job postings:
|
Occupation |
Unique active job postings, May 2025 |
Change in active job postings, April 2025 to May 2025 |
|
Delivery Drivers and Couriers |
1,376 |
53.7% |
|
Food, Drink and Tobacco Process Operatives |
346 |
34.1% |
|
Business Associate Professionals n.e.c. |
691 |
27.7% |
|
Train and Tram Drivers |
975 |
27.6% |
|
Managers and Directors in the Creative Industries |
1,003 |
26.2% |
|
Retail Cashiers and Check-out Operators |
2,600 |
23.0% |
|
Forestry Workers |
640 |
18.7% |
|
Pipe Fitters |
1,060 |
18.6% |
|
Painters and Decorators |
2,584 |
18.4% |
|
Tool Makers, Tool Fitters and Markers-out |
382 |
15.4% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior Officers in Fire, Ambulance, Prison and Related Services |
459 |
-13.9% |
|
Rail Construction and Maintenance Operatives |
1,463 |
-16.6% |
|
Undertakers, Mortuary and Crematorium Assistants |
339 |
-17.1% |
|
Registered Mental Health Nurses |
1,278 |
-18.1% |
|
Dental Nurses |
1,202 |
-18.9% |
|
Aerospace Engineers |
401 |
-19.5% |
|
Air Transport Operatives |
493 |
-19.6% |
|
Authors, Writers and Translators |
7,112 |
-24.4% |
|
Dental Practitioners |
1,948 |
-26.6% |
|
Business Sales Executives |
1,431 |
-47.3% |
Key indicator occupations
|
Occupation |
Unique active job postings, May 2025 |
Change in active job postings, April 2025 to May 2025 |
|
Advertising and Marketing Associate Professionals |
10,129 |
-2.6% |
|
Bar Staff |
9,882 |
-1.0% |
|
Beauticians and Related Occupations |
1,476 |
8.1% |
|
Care Workers and Home Carers |
42,629 |
-6.0% |
|
Caretakers |
1,505 |
-8.2% |
|
Carpenters and Joiners |
5,206 |
8.7% |
|
Chartered and Certified Accountants |
13,406 |
-9.5% |
|
Chefs |
13,439 |
-13.1% |
|
Cleaners and Domestics |
33,149 |
-2.0% |
|
Delivery Operatives |
657 |
4.5% |
|
Electricians and Electrical Fitters |
7,611 |
-1.2% |
|
Elementary Storage Occupations n.e.c. |
3,734 |
1.2% |
|
Elementary Storage Supervisors |
1,981 |
1.5% |
|
Finance and Investment Analysts and Advisers |
11,305 |
-4.1% |
|
Fitness and Wellbeing Instructors |
3,336 |
1.3% |
|
Food, Drink and Tobacco Process Operatives |
346 |
34.1% |
|
Hairdressers and Barbers |
1,338 |
-5.0% |
|
Large Goods Vehicle Drivers |
19,432 |
5.8% |
|
Mechanical Engineers |
13,446 |
-0.3% |
|
Metal Working Production and Maintenance Fitters |
12 |
0.0% |
|
Nursery Education Teaching Professionals |
40 |
25.0% |
|
Other Registered Nursing Professionals |
12,758 |
-11.4% |
|
Primary Education Teaching Professionals |
15,992 |
0.7% |
|
Programmers and Software Development Professionals |
26,732 |
-1.9% |
|
Property, Housing and Estate Managers |
4,285 |
-5.3% |
|
Registered Children's Nurses |
758 |
-8.0% |
|
Registered Community Nurses |
1,332 |
-11.4% |
|
Registered Mental Health Nurses |
1,278 |
-18.1% |
|
Registered Nurse Practitioners |
5,082 |
-8.8% |
|
Registered Specialist Nurses |
3,523 |
-5.3% |
|
Sales and Retail Assistants |
14,965 |
0.4% |
|
Secondary Education Teaching Professionals |
26,451 |
8.9% |
|
Security Guards and Related Occupations |
4,556 |
-2.6% |
|
Solicitors and Lawyers |
15,658 |
-13.8% |
|
Sports Coaches, Instructors and Officials |
4,785 |
-1.8% |
|
Waiters and Waitresses |
8,404 |
-4.5% |
|
Warehouse Operatives |
11,346 |
0.3% |
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