Labour market
Updated to include the latest official statistics from the ONS on employment and unemployment. The next ONS release date is 17 July 2025.
Updated to include data for April 2025 on the availability and recruitment of permanent and temporary staff from the KPMG and REC UK Report on Jobs compiled by S&P Global in association with the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC).
The UK's labour market outlook is uncertain following October's budget announcement, data from Indeed has indicated.
The Budget, the first in the UK by a female chancellor, was designed to fill a public spending black hole, boost public services, secure financial compensation for victims of scandals, and maintain defence spending. Labour has sought to stand by its manifesto commitments and not apply extra taxes to 'working people'. However, as our panel of experts says, businesses will see considerable added costs.
The Department for Work and Pensions has set out its blueprint for getting people back into work, after a report by Labour adviser Alan Milburn called for the long-term sick to be forced to seek work.
The new government confirmed that it would bring forward an Employment Rights Bill in the King's Speech today (17 July) - legislation that will "ban exploitative practices and enhance employment rights".
Early retirement is the biggest driver of rising economic inactivity and labour shortages in the UK, according to a House of Lords committee.
HR is anticipating another challenging year as they play a key role in protecting the business in uncertain economic times by ensuring the right people are in the right roles, while also supporting employees sustainably through the cost-of-living crisis.
Sheila Attwood shares the latest figures on annual pay reviews, while Penne Cecil Hutton addresses how to benchmark pay and benefits when things are moving so quickly.
HR and legal information and guidance relating to the labour market.