Vacancies And Jobs In The UK - September 2024

10th September 2024

The estimated number of vacancies in the UK in June to August 2024 was 857,000, a decrease of 42,000 or 4.7% from March to May 2024.

Vacancy numbers decreased on the quarter for the 26th consecutive period in June to August 2024, with vacancies decreasing in all 18 industry sectors.

Total estimated vacancies were down by 143,000 (14.3%) in June to August 2024, from the level of a year ago, although they remained 61,000 (7.7%) above their pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic January to March 2020 levels.

The number of unemployed people per vacancy was 1.6 in May to July 2024, down from 1.7 in the previous quarter (February to April 2024).

The estimated number of Workforce Jobs was up by 503,000 (1.4%) in June 2024, from the level of a year ago, to 37.1 million, with human health and social work activities showing the largest increase, up by 288,000 (6.0%).

The total Workforce Jobs estimate decreased in June 2024 by 28,000 or 0.1% on the quarter, with a decrease of 92,000 (2.1%) in self-employment jobs and an increase of 62,000 (0.2%) in employee jobs.

The estimated total number of vacancies decreased by 4.7% from the previous quarter, declining in all of the 18 industry sectors, with real estate activities and administrative and support service activities declining the most by 15.8% and 15.6%, respectively.

The estimated number of vacancies decreased on the quarter by 42,000 to 857,000 in June to August 2024. This was the 26th consecutive quarterly fall. The largest decreases were in administrative and support service activities and human health and social work activities, which were down by 10,000 and 8,000 vacancies, respectively.

When comparing June to August 2024 with the same time last year, total vacancies decreased by 143,000 (14.3%), with declines in 16 of the 18 industry sectors. The industries that decreased the most were wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, and human health and social work activities, which fell by a combined total of 56,000 vacancies.

The total estimated number of vacancies remains 61,000 (7.7%) above its January to March 2020 pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic level. The two industry sectors that have increased the most from their January to March 2020 levels are human health and social work activities, and professional, scientific and technical activities, which were up by an estimated 19,000 and 16,000 vacancies, respectively.

Seven industry sectors are currently below pre-coronavirus levels, with a combined decrease of 38,000 vacancies. These include wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, down the most by an estimated 23,000 vacancies.

The number of unemployed people per vacancy in May to July 2024 was 1.6, down from 1.7 in the previous quarter (February to April 2024).

Read the full ONS report HERE