UK Job Market Overview (September 2025)
1. Employment, Unemployment & Inactivity
- Unemployment sits at 4.7%, its highest level in four years—now stable, but undeniably elevated. AInvestOffice for National Statistics+2Office for National Statistics+2House of Commons Library
- Employment rate for ages 16–64 holds at 75.2–75.3%, a modest year-on-year increase and slight quarterly uptick. Office for National Statistics+1House of Commons Library
- Economic inactivity has marginally declined, now at 21.0%, mainly attributable to fewer people temporarily out of the workforce. Office for National Statistics+2Office for National Statistics+2
2. Vacancies & Payroll Trends
- Active job vacancies have dropped to approximately 718,000, marking the 37th consecutive quarterly decline. Office for National Statistics+1House of Commons LibraryInstitute for Employment Studies (IES)
- Payroll employment shows sustained softness—down 0.5% year-on-year, with early July estimates tracking a further decline. Office for National Statistics+1Office for National StatisticsHouse of Commons Library
3. Labour Market Softening & Wage Signals
- Businesses are cutting jobs at a rate not seen since 2021. Employers cite margin pressure, tax burdens, and higher employment costs as key drivers. Financial Times
- Wage growth remains positive but slowing. Pay settlements dropped to just 3.0% in July—the lowest since late 2021. Start salaries and hiring activity are rising gently, albeit cautiously. ReutersThe Times
4. Job Postings & Candidate Supply
- There’s a modest rebound: June saw a 6.2% rise in new job postings (to ~757,600), though still 2.6% below June 2024. Regionally, London and the South East outperform the rest. The REC
- Labour supply is clearly on the move. Candidates are back in circulation, creating a more competitive applicant pool. KPMGReuters
5. Market Interpretation
- The UK labour market is unequivocally cooling: job openings are shrinking, layoffs are rising, and payroll figures are slipping.
- However, it’s not yet a crash—wage growth and employment remain resilient enough to cushion the shock.
- Persistent cost pressures (tax hikes, inflation, rising NI) continue to strain hiring appetite. Financial TimesReuters
The UK job market is served by a variety of job boards, each catering to specific industries and offering unique features. Below is an overview of some prominent UK job boards, their specializations, and average monthly visit volumes:
| Job Board | Specialization | Average Monthly Visits |
|---|---|---|
| Indeed | General job listings across all sectors. | Over 250 million worldwide. |
| Professional networking with a focus on corporate, mid-level, and management roles. | Approximately 39.7 million UK users. | |
| CV-Library | Extensive database covering over 70 industries. | Not specified. |
| Reed.co.uk | General job listings with a strong presence in the UK market. | Not specified. |
| Totaljobs | General job listings with a focus on UK employment opportunities. | Not specified. |
| Monster UK | General job listings with a global reach. | Approximately 500,000 UK visitors. |
| Adzuna | Aggregates job listings from various sources. | Not specified. |
| Glassdoor | Job listings combined with company reviews and salary information. | Not specified. |
| Guardian Jobs | Focus on sectors like education, government, and media. | Not specified. |
| Otta | Specializes in startup and tech industry roles. | Not specified. |
Regarding user satisfaction, Trustpilot ratings for these job boards vary. Here’s a ranking based on available Trustpilot scores:recooty.com+3thetimes.co.uk+3blog.consultants500.com+3
| Job Board | Trustpilot Rating |
|---|---|
| Indeed | 1.3 out of 5 |
| Reed.co.uk | 1.5 out of 5 |
| Totaljobs | 1.6 out of 5 |
| CV-Library | 1.7 out of 5 |
| Monster UK | 1.8 out of 5 |
| Adzuna | 1.9 out of 5 |
| Glassdoor | 2.0 out of 5 |
| Guardian Jobs | 2.1 out of 5 |
| Otta | 2.2 out of 5 |
| 2.3 out of 5 |
Please note that user experiences can vary, and it’s advisable to consult multiple sources when evaluating job boards.
