Report on Jobs

Summary of the latest report

The latest Report on Jobs for April 2026 indicated a continued softening in labour‑market conditions. Despite the current conflict in the Gulf, there are signs that the downturn in hiring is easing. Permanent placements declined again, but only marginally, marking the weakest reduction since March 2023, while temporary billings fell modestly and showed greater resilience than permanent hiring. Overall vacancies continued to fall, but the pace of decline slowed for a third consecutive month, making it the second‑slowest reduction since May 2025. Candidate availability rose sharply for both permanent and temporary roles, driven largely by redundancies and limited job opportunities, easing recruitment pressures. Pay trends remained subdued, with both permanent starting salaries and temporary wages rising slightly, though higher candidate numbers constrained inflation. Sector performance was mixed, with Engineering and Construction showing firmer permanent demand, while Blue Collar roles were the only sector to record growth in temporary vacancies.

Read the key findings to understand the latest trends in salaries, staff availability and sector demand.

How to Subscribe

By joining the Report on Jobs panel and completing the short 5 min survey each month REC members can receive the report for FREE.

Alternatively, Report on Jobs is available to REC Corporate members for an annual subscription of £450, and to non-members for £750.

To subscribe or to join the panel, please contact S&P Global on economics@spglobal.com 

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