UK Labour Market Cools: Vacancies Drop, Redundancies Rise
The latest Office for National Statistics data from September 2026 shows UK job vacancies fell to 702,000 while redundancy notices remain elevated. Competition for jobs has stabilised at 5.5 jobseekers per vacancy, well above pre-pandemic levels.
The early estimate of the number of vacancies in the UK decreased by 8,000 (1.1%) to 702,000 in June to August 2026, compared with March to May 2026. This ongoing decline reflects broader economic softness across the UK labour market.
Redundancy Pressure and Job Competition
Redundancies rose to 113,000 in the May-July quarter of 2026, up from 103,000 in the same period in 2025. However, potential redundancies peaked at 27,700 in March-May 2026, but dropped to 20,900 in June-August, 9.3% below the same period a year earlier.
On the jobs-per-seeker ratio, there were 2.5 unemployed people per vacancy in May to July 2026; this ratio has remained at 2.5 since July to September 2025, after previously increasing quarter on quarter since July to September 2024. It has held steady at around 5.5 since the January-March quarter of 2026, having climbed steadily from a post-pandemic low of around 2.4 in mid-2022. Competition for each available job has stabilised but at a much higher level than in recent years.
What This Means for Foreign Job Seekers
As a foreigner looking to work in the UK, this labour market cooling makes securing a job offer more competitive. With nearly three jobseekers per vacancy and redundancy notices still elevated, employers can be more selective. The data reinforces why having specialist qualifications, relevant UK work experience, or an existing job offer is increasingly important. Visa sponsorship cases are stronger when employers can demonstrate a genuine vacancy and that you offer skills they cannot easily find among local candidates.
Sources
Independent app, not a government. General information, not advice. The official source:
