- The number of overall active postings in July 2024 was 1,766,963 – up by 2.4% on the number of postings in June 2024 and still above pre-pandemic levels.
- There were 748,211 new job postings in July 2024 – a 3.2% decline from the month before, though the seasonal effect of summer holidays is likely to have played a role in this.
- Most UK regions saw an uptick in the number of active job postings as compared to the previous month.
- Of the top ten local areas with the highest increase in the number of job postings as compared to June 2024, four were in London.
There were 748,211 new job postings in the UK last month, according to the latest Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) and Lightcast Labour Market Tracker. This is a 3.2% decline from the month before, though the overall number of active postings remained steady at around 1.7m.
REC Chief Executive Neil Carberry said:
"Vacancies remain high by historical standards, despite the steady cooling of hiring in the past year. This resilience reflects shortages in skill and labour in some sectors, and a growing optimism from firms about the end of the year, with economic growth up, the start of interest rate cuts and inflation considerably lower than a year ago.
“It is reassuring to see the areas in the top ten for vacancy growth in July spread across the UK and the increase in some roles in construction, finance and retail are encouraging given their status as bellwethers for the economy.
“Both the high number and wide spread of vacancies in today’s report is particularly beneficial for recent graduates and school leavers because they will aim to begin their careers this summer, as well as prove helpful for those re-entering the job market after a break.
“The government is right to make economic growth its focus. Only growth can turn employers’ sentiment to hire and invest, into action. That means creating the right conditions for a wide range of ways of working – matching the needs of both workers and the economy. The government’s plans to ‘Make Work Pay’ mustn’t inadvertently jeopardise access to temporary work by spooking employers. Uncertainty about what new employment rules might mean - or concern about their impact – needs to be answered by designing the rules with business."
For the second month in a row, Childminders are the occupation with the highest increase in job postings, doubling in number (106.5%) from June to July 2024. It is still a substantial increase despite the pace of increase slower than last month’s (443.8%)
Other occupations with a high increase in job postings were Train and Tram Drivers (45.6%) and Dental Practitioners (35.4%).
Primary Education Teaching Professionals (-8.8%) delivery Operatives (-9.5%) and Pharmacy and Optical Dispensing Assistants (-10.5%), all showed the largest decline in roles from June 2024 to July 2024.
Enfield (18.9%), Redbridge and Waltham Forest (13.6%) and Camden and City of London (10.8%) had among the highest growth in job postings when compared to last month. Of the top ten places with the highest growth, four were based in the capital. REC’s separate Report on Jobs published recently also found that London had seen a rise in permanent placements and a separate REC analysis discovered a surge in permanent hiring intentions among London employers could be a bell-wether for the rest of the country.
According to anecdotal evidence from REC members the growth in business activity and the completion of the General Election had played a role in unlocking some hiring decisions.
Argyll and Bute (-12.5%), Scottish Borders (-12.8%) and Moray (-16.6%) all accounted for the sharpest decline in job postings. Scotland as a region saw a 3.2% decline in the number of job postings as compared to the previous month.
Recent Home Office data found that visa applications for carers and nurses have decreased significantly since November last year. Today, there are 50,120 active postings for care workers and home carers in the UK, which is 0.2% up on June 2024.
And the UK is signalling moves to curb overseas hiring for tech and engineering jobs. Our data shows, overall, by combining IT and Engineering sectors in July, we see a dip of 13.5% in the number of job postings when compared to pre-pandemic (February 2020). There are signs of growth however, with July 2024 showing a 2.1% increase in the number of job postings as compared to June 2024.
Industries
Healthcare:
Dental Practitioners (35.8%), Undertakers, Mortuary and Crematorium Assistants (12.7%) and Other Psychologists (9.0%) had the highest growth in job postings in the health and care sector. Whereas Clinical Psychologists (-3.3%), Dispensing Opticians (-8.7%) and Pharmacy and Optical Dispensing Assistants (-10.5%) had the sharpest decline in job postings.
Logistics and Drivers:
Within the Logistics and Drivers sector, Train and Tram Drivers (45.6%), Mobile Machine Drivers and Operatives n.e.c. (16.6%) and Bus and Coach Drivers (14.3%) had the highest uptick in the number of job postings.
The steepest decline in job postings was for Air Transport Operatives (-1.2%), Taxi and Cab Drivers and Chauffeurs (-2.3%) and Crane Drivers (-3.6%).
Construction:
Rail Construction and Maintenance Operatives (12.5%), Painters and Decorators (12.1%) and Building and Civil Engineering Technicians (9.5%) had the sharpest growth in job postings
Largest decreases in the Construction sector were in the following job roles: Chartered Surveyors (-1.4%), Construction Project Managers and Related Professionals (-1.9%) and Interior Designers (-4.8%).
