Entry-level job postings fell by 20% across 26 UK cities between the first halves of 2025 and 2026, according to analysis published by JobLeads.
The study covers the platform’s largest entry-level city markets, each with at least 500 relevant postings in both periods. Across them, the number of postings declined from 57,914 to 46,254. This measures advertised roles in JobLeads’ dataset, not completed hires or the entire UK jobs market.
More employers, fewer openings each
The average city-level measure of entry-level jobs per company fell from 2.13 to 1.54, a decline of approximately 28%. JobLeads estimates that around 11% more companies were advertising in these cities, but each was advertising fewer positions.
Plymouth recorded the largest fall in postings at 40.9%, compared with 6.3% in Coventry. London’s metropolitan area recorded a 17.6% decline. All 26 cities saw reductions in both postings and jobs per company.
“The dataset reflects postings on the JobLeads platform and its source feeds; it is not a full census of the UK job market.”
JobLeads study methodology, authored by Beata Stefanowicz
The national picture differs
Across the four UK nations combined, the study reports a smaller decline of around 5%. Welsh postings rose 3% and Northern Ireland’s rose 21%, even though Cardiff and Belfast declined. The city findings should therefore not be presented as a 20% nationwide fall.
Why it matters for recruiters
The findings suggest a useful distinction between the number of employers participating in entry-level recruitment and the number of opportunities each offers. Recruiters planning early-career campaigns can examine local demand and employer requirements rather than assume the same conditions apply everywhere.
The analysis does not establish the cause of the decline. References to AI or employment costs as possible drivers should be treated as hypotheses, not findings proved by the posting data.
About the research
The comparison covers January–June 2025 and January–June 2026. Its underlying dataset contains 442,726 UK postings collected from 1 August 2024 to 31 July 2026, with data current as of 1 September 2026. Entry-level roles were identified through keyword filters in job titles and descriptions; duplicate and unidentifiable-location postings were excluded.
Company counts use names rather than company IDs. Naming variations and keyword filtering are limitations, alongside the platform’s coverage. Read the full JobLeads study and methodology.
Chart: JobLeads, reproduced with permission and attribution. The chart shows the longer monthly series; the headline comparison concerns the first halves of 2025 and 2026.
