- The number of overall active job postings in November 2024 was 1,500,910 – a decrease of 2.8% on the number of job postings in October 2024. This continues a trend of moderation back to pre-pandemic levels.
- Four of the top 10 local authorities that had the highest increase in job postings were based in London: Wandsworth (13.0%); Haringey and Islington (12.6%); Hackney and Newham (4.6%); and Ealing (4.5%).
- Plenty of employers are keen to hire, with around 100,000 job postings in each of the hospitality, driving and logistics and retail sectors, as we head into the busy Christmas period.
There were more than 1.5m active postings in November 2024, according to the latest Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) and Lightcast Labour Market Tracker.
The number of overall active postings in November 2024 was 1,500,910. The number of new job postings in the UK was 663,814 – down by 6.0% on last month as firms begin to look to 2025 for their hiring plans.
The volume of postings emphasises that while there have been some headwinds for businesses this autumn on the costs of employment and the economic path ahead, the underlying picture is still good.
REC Chief Executive Neil Carberry said:
“Today’s numbers emphasise the scale and relative good health of the UK’s labour market. Despite a weakening trend on vacancies as the post-pandemic normalisation draws to an end, there are still more than 1.5m jobs out there, and plenty of opportunity for jobseekers who get in touch with their local agency. It’s true that many employers are concerned by the headwinds on costs that the Budget and the Employment Rights Bill may bring, if poorly implemented. But the economy is bigger than policy, and the relative health of household balance sheets and growing confidence amongst employers in their own business can shift the scales in the other direction. With political stability and lower inflation, businesses are well-positioned to head into the jobs market and trading next year with more confidence.
“We are seeing lower and longer spikes in Christmas hiring in recent years because employers are getting better at planning their workforce needs, such as extending temporary contracts rather than hitting the job market late in the year. But as always, it is temporary workers who will be delivering Christmas this year, given the many seasonal roles available, and our latest Recruitment Industry Status Report finding that, on any given day in 2023, 1,058,300 temporary or contract workers were on assignment in the UK. We want to thank them for their work and remind policymakers that the temporary work they value is hugely important to both our economy and people’s ability to manage their lives.”
Today’s Labour Market Tracker shows an increase in job postings this month for Childminders (109.3%), Delivery Drivers and Couriers (101.1%) and Collector Salespersons and Credit Agents (33.4%).
Electrical Service and Maintenance Mechanics and Repairers (-20.9%), Optometrists (-22.0%) and Probation Officers (-24.8%) all showed the largest decline in roles from October to November 2024.
Lisburn and Castlereagh (13.6%), Wandsworth (13.0%) and Haringey and Islington (12.6%) showed the highest increase in job postings. This is the second month in a row that Wandsworth, and Lisburn and Castlereagh both saw increases in job postings.
Four of the top 10 counties that had the highest increase in job postings were based in London: Wandsworth (13.0%); Haringey and Islington (12.6%); Hackney and Newham (4.6%); and Ealing (4.5%). Despite some pockets of growth, London as a region saw a 1.9% decline overall in job postings.
Whereas Camden and City of London (-16.3%), Dumfries and Galloway (-21.2%) and Scottish Borders (-21.6%) all accounted for the sharpest decline in job postings.
Christmas hiring 2024
Overall, Christmas hiring is more modest this year than it was last year which reflects the challenging economy but also that more employers are getting better at forecasting staff needs ahead of Christmas without needing to rush to the job market.
Driving and Logistics:
There was a mighty total of 104,840 job postings in driving and logistics in November 2024.
Some driving roles featured in the highest overall rise in job postings in the UK, between October and November 2024. Overall, the sector had a 2.0% increase in the number of job postings in November 2024 as compared to October 2024. This is only marginally down on the 4.1% increase in such job postings between October 2023 and November 2023.
The most in demand roles when we compare October 2024 to November 2024, are the 101% increase in job postings for delivery drivers and couriers, 28% increase for Postal Workers, Mail Sorters, Messengers and Couriers, and 26.5 % increase in Delivery Operatives job postings.
Hospitality and Catering
There were a huge 93,661 job postings in hospitality and catering in November 2024, ahead of the festive period.
Leisure and Sports Managers and Proprietors (14.3%) and Leisure and Travel Service Occupations n.e.c. (4.2%), were among the highest increase in job postings from October 2024 to November 2024.
Last year (comparing October 2023 to November 2023) the hospitality sector saw a rise in job postings of 2.9% in anticipation of Christmas demand. That same anticipation was less in this year's statistics with a marginal overall fall of 3.6% in job postings from October 2024 to November 2024.
Retail
There is plenty of hiring going on in retail because there were a massive 178,048 job postings in retail roles in the UK in November 2024.
The highest increase in job postings in this sector between October 2024 and November 2024 was in Collector Salespersons and Credit Agents (33.4%) and Roundspersons and Van Salespersons (22.9%).
Last year (comparing October 2023 to November 2023) the retail industry saw a rise in job postings of 3.7% in anticipation of Christmas demand. That same anticipation was not reflected in this year's statistics as there was a marginal overall 3.4% drop in the number of retail job postings from October 2024 to November 2024.
For example, there was a fall in job postings between October 2024 and November 2024 in typical retail roles such as for sales and retail assistants (-5.8%), retail cashiers and check-out operators (-9.5%) and sales supervisors (-7.9%). In the corresponding period last year (October 2023 - November 2023), there was a 6.7% increase in job postings for retail cashiers and check-out operators (6.7%) and 4.5% increase for sales supervisors.
