Number of job openings in the UK falls to five-year low



05/20/2026 11:14 AM


Between February and April, the average number of job vacancies in the UK decreased to 705,000, the lowest level since 2021, as reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).



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It mentions that April's data, the initial month of the financial year, is typically marked by heightened volatility and might undergo considerable revisions later on.

"A significant decline in the labor market in April may dampen the rise in government bond yields, emphasizing that the conflict in Iran is prompting businesses to reduce their workforce instead of raising wages to help employees deal with inflation," remarked Paul Dales, an economist at Capital Economics.

In the UK, unemployment increased to 5% from December-February's 4.9% during January-March. In the last year, the unemployed population in the nation rose by 192,000, whereas overall employment also grew by 416,000.

Average earnings, including bonuses, rose by 4.1% after a previous increase of 3.9%, whereas excluding bonuses, the growth rate decelerated to 3.4% from 3.6%.

source: ft.com

 


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