While the UK job market has cooled from its post-pandemic peak, with vacancies falling from a record 1.3 million in early 2022 to around 884,000 by August 2024, there are still hundreds of thousands of opportunities across every sector and region waiting to be filled.
Key Takeaways
- In the three months to August 2023, UK job vacancies stood at 956,000, down 15,000 from the previous quarter.
- Total UK job vacancies peaked at 1.3 million in Q1 2022 before declining.
- As of September 2023, vacancies totaled 941,000, a decrease of 43,000 from the year before.
- Human resources sector had 45,000 vacancies in Q2 2023.
- Health and social care vacancies reached 150,000 in 2023.
- Construction industry reported 42,000 vacancies quarterly average 2023.
- London had 250,000 job vacancies in Q2 2023.
- South East England vacancies totaled 140,000 in 2023 average.
- North West region reported 95,000 vacancies in Q3 2023.
- Vacancies rose 50% from 2019 to 2021 peak.
- Year-on-year vacancy growth was 10.9% in Q1 2023.
- Vacancies declined by 4.7% in three months to November 2023.
- Average advertised salary for vacancies rose 5% YoY 2023.
- Entry-level vacancies required GCSEs or equivalent in 40% cases 2023.
- Median wage for advertised jobs was £35,000 in Q3 2023.
UK job vacancies have steadily declined since their record peak in early 2022.
National Totals
- In the three months to August 2023, UK job vacancies stood at 956,000, down 15,000 from the previous quarter.
- Total UK job vacancies peaked at 1.3 million in Q1 2022 before declining.
- As of September 2023, vacancies totaled 941,000, a decrease of 43,000 from the year before.
- UK-wide vacancies were 963,000 in the three months to November 2023.
- In Q4 2022, national vacancies hit 1,262,000, the highest on record.
- Vacancies fell to 898,000 by May 2024 across the UK.
- Total vacancies in the UK reached 1,020,000 in March 2023.
- By August 2024, UK vacancies dropped to 884,000.
- Pre-pandemic, vacancies averaged around 800,000 quarterly in 2019.
- In 2023 annual average, UK vacancies were approximately 1,000,000.
- Vacancy rate was 3.3% of the workforce in Q2 2023.
- UK had 935,000 vacancies in Q1 2024.
- Vacancies declined by 19% year-on-year to 790,000 by mid-2024.
- Total active job postings on Indeed UK exceeded 500,000 in October 2023.
- Adzuna reported 1.1 million live vacancies in Q3 2023.
- Totaljobs platform listed 250,000 vacancies as of September 2024.
- Hays UK recruitment tracked 900,000 vacancies in 2023.
- Monster UK had 150,000 job ads in Q2 2024.
- CWJobs IT vacancies totaled 45,000 nationally in 2023.
- Fish4.co.uk advertised 80,000 jobs in late 2023.
- National Careers Service reported 1 million+ opportunities in 2024.
- ONS estimated 950,000 vacancies in rolling three months to July 2024.
- Bank of England noted vacancies at 920,000 in their 2023 report.
- CIPD survey found 970,000 vacancies in Q4 2023.
- REC reported 915,000 vacancies from agency data in 2024.
- In Q3 2023, vacancies were 975,000 per ONS Business Insights.
- UK average vacancies per 100 jobs was 3.4% in 2022.
- 2024 forecast by OBR predicted vacancies at 850,000 average.
- Live vacancies on LinkedIn UK hit 400,000 in 2023 peak.
- Glassdoor UK tracked 300,000 unique postings in Q1 2024.
National Totals Interpretation
The UK job market is gently deflating from its post-pandemic peak, but with nearly a million vacancies still up for grabs, it's less a cliff edge and more a return to a lively, pre-2020 plateau where employers must actually compete for talent again.
Regional Variations
- London had 250,000 job vacancies in Q2 2023.
- South East England vacancies totaled 140,000 in 2023 average.
- North West region reported 95,000 vacancies in Q3 2023.
- Scotland had 70,000 vacancies in three months to August 2023.
- Wales vacancies stood at 28,000 in Q1 2024.
- Northern Ireland had 22,000 vacancies quarterly 2023.
- West Midlands region: 85,000 vacancies in 2023 peak.
- East of England: 75,000 vacancies average 2023.
- Yorkshire and Humber: 65,000 vacancies Q2 2023.
- East Midlands: 55,000 vacancies in late 2023.
- South West: 68,000 vacancies per ONS 2023 data.
- North East England: 38,000 vacancies quarterly 2023.
- Greater Manchester alone had 45,000 vacancies in 2023.
- West Yorkshire: 35,000 vacancies reported 2023.
- Liverpool city region: 25,000 vacancies Q3 2023.
- Bristol area: 28,000 vacancies in 2023.
- Birmingham: 50,000 vacancies peak 2023.
- Glasgow: 22,000 vacancies in Scotland's largest city 2023.
- Edinburgh: 20,000 vacancies quarterly 2023.
- Cardiff: 15,000 vacancies in Wales 2023.
- Belfast: 12,000 vacancies Northern Ireland 2023.
Regional Variations Interpretation
The data paints a clear picture of Britain's job market: London is absolutely feasting at the employment table, while the rest of the nation is left to politely share the side dishes.
Sector Breakdowns
- Human resources sector had 45,000 vacancies in Q2 2023.
- Health and social care vacancies reached 150,000 in 2023.
- Construction industry reported 42,000 vacancies quarterly average 2023.
- IT and tech sector vacancies stood at 65,000 in Q3 2023.
- Retail vacancies totaled 110,000 across UK in 2023 peak.
- Hospitality and food services had 152,000 vacancies in Q1 2022.
- Administrative and support services vacancies: 85,000 in 2023.
- Manufacturing sector vacancies averaged 28,000 per quarter 2023.
- Education vacancies hit 38,000 in academic year 2023/24.
- Financial services had 22,000 vacancies in London-centric 2023.
- Transport and logistics vacancies: 55,000 in Q4 2023.
- Professional, scientific, technical services: 72,000 vacancies 2023.
- Wholesale and retail trade vacancies peaked at 140,000 in 2022.
- Arts, entertainment, recreation: 25,000 vacancies post-2023.
- Public administration and defence: 32,000 vacancies in 2023.
- Real estate activities: 12,000 vacancies quarterly 2023.
- Other services: 18,000 vacancies in UK 2023 average.
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing: 8,000 vacancies in 2023.
- Water supply, sewerage: 5,000 vacancies nationally 2023.
- Mining and quarrying: 2,500 vacancies in UK 2023.
- Electricity, gas supply: 4,000 vacancies per year 2023.
- Accommodation and food services: 165,000 vacancies Q2 2023.
Sector Breakdowns Interpretation
While Health and Social Care is crying out for a small army (150,000 strong), the nation seems more consistently committed to feeding and watering itself, as Accommodation and Food Services nearly matches that plea with 165,000 open roles.
Skills and Wages
- Average advertised salary for vacancies rose 5% YoY 2023.
- Entry-level vacancies required GCSEs or equivalent in 40% cases 2023.
- Median wage for advertised jobs was £35,000 in Q3 2023.
- 25% of vacancies demanded degree-level qualifications in 2023.
- IT vacancies offered average £50,000 salary in 2024.
- Nursing vacancies averaged £32,000 annual pay 2023.
- 60% of vacancies sought 1-3 years experience in 2023.
- Construction skilled trade vacancies: £40,000 median wage.
- Hard-to-fill vacancies cited skills shortages in 70% cases 2023.
- Apprenticeship vacancies numbered 45,000 with avg £20,000 start.
- Remote work vacancies: 15% of total, avg £38,000 salary.
- Digital skills gap affected 80,000 tech vacancies 2023.
- HGV driver vacancies offered £35,000-£45,000 range.
- Teaching vacancies required PGCE, avg £30,000 starting.
- Engineering vacancies: 50,000 needed, avg £45,000 pay.
- Customer service vacancies: no degree needed, £25,000 avg.
- Management vacancies demanded MBA in 20%, £55,000 median.
- 35% vacancies hybrid model, higher wages by 10%.
- Green jobs vacancies: 15,000, avg £42,000 salary 2023.
- Care worker vacancies: NVQ level 2 min, £22,000 avg pay.
Skills and Wages Interpretation
The UK job market in 2023 was a tale of two economies, where your path to a £50,000 IT salary is paved with degrees and experience, but you can still drive a lorry for nearly as much if you don't mind everyone begging you to take the job.
Temporal Trends
- Vacancies rose 50% from 2019 to 2021 peak.
- Year-on-year vacancy growth was 10.9% in Q1 2023.
- Vacancies declined by 4.7% in three months to November 2023.
- From Q4 2021 to Q4 2022, vacancies increased 25%.
- Monthly vacancy postings on Reed fell 15% YoY by Oct 2024.
- Adzuna index showed 8% monthly decline in vacancies Sep 2023.
- Indeed UK postings dropped 20% from 2023 peak to 2024.
- Totaljobs saw 12% YoY decrease in new jobs Q3 2024.
- Hays quarterly review noted 5% vacancy fall in H1 2024.
- Pre-COVID average quarterly vacancies 750,000 (2015-2019).
- Pandemic low: vacancies at 600,000 in Q2 2020.
- Recovery phase: +40% growth 2020-2022.
- 2024 saw fastest quarterly drop since 2009 at 7%.
- Seasonal peak in summer 2023: +3% MoM vacancies.
- Winter 2022 dip: -2% from autumn highs.
- Tech sector vacancies doubled 2019-2022 then halved by 2024.
- Health vacancies up 30% since 2020.
- Retail vacancies flatlined post-2023 Christmas.
- Construction vacancies peaked Q2 2023 then -10%.
- London vacancies up 15% 2021-2023, then stable.
- Scotland vacancies grew 20% 2020-2023.
Temporal Trends Interpretation
The job market roared back from the pandemic with a hiring spree, only to settle into a more cautious, sector-specific rhythm, where the great resignation gracefully bowed to the great recalibration.
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