REC response to ONS labour market figures, April 2026

The ONS published its latest labour market figures this morning. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) Chief Executive Neil Carberry said:

“The labour market is slowing again, which is no surprise given global uncertainty and an increasingly heavy regulatory agenda that is increasing the cost of creating jobs. That said, overall performance remains resilient.

“A welcome fall in unemployment must be seen in the context of a rise in inactivity this month. After making progress on this for some time, policymakers cannot risk a reversal of this trend, which emphasises again the need to take on the cost of employment crisis that is holding up job creation, large swathes of which are about non-wage regulatory costs.

“With interest rate cuts looking unlikely amid ongoing tensions in the Gulf, today’s data suggest pay growth is not adding further complexity for the Bank of England. What is needed now is a more pragmatic approach to labour market policy which would support business confidence, including a rethink of proposals such as guaranteed hours requirements, which risk becoming a costly misstep for workers who would end up facing less secure forms of work.”