
The latest CBI & Pertemps Labour Market Update shows employment rates remain close to a record high. Employment growth stays similar to the relatively strong rates seen over most of 2017.
Posted 7 years ago •
In the quarter to November 2025, unemployment and redundancy levels rose, the employment rate held, and strong private sector wage growth has continued to show signs of easing. The number of vacancies across the economy was also broadly unchanged and inactivity remains stubbornly high. Therefore, the UK labour market picture is fundamentally the same, with cooling conditions increasingly being driven by business cost pressures.
In the three months to October 2025, unemployment and redundancies rose, the employment rate fell, and wage growth remained strong, but was noticeably weaker in the private sector. Vacancies also continued to plateau. The labour market picture is therefore fundamentally the same, but the problem of unemployment is growing, with more people who want to work struggling to find a job.
In the three months to September 2025, unemployment and redundancy levels both rose while the number of employed people and payrolled employees fell, vacancy levels plateaued, and wage growth in the private sector is gradually falling. Consequently, the labour market picture is fundamentally the same, and the jobs market is continuing to show signs of weakening.