Vacancies and jobs in the UK - May 2025

13th May 2025

The estimated number of vacancies in the UK fell by 42,000, or 5.3%, on the quarter, to 761,000 in February to April 2025, which was the 34th consecutive quarterly decline.

Total estimated vacancies were down by 131,000, or 14.7%, in February to April 2025 from the level of a year ago, and 34,000 (4.3%) below their pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) January to March 2020 level.

The number of unemployed people per vacancy was 2.1 in January to March 2025, up from 1.9 in the previous quarter (October to December 2024).

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1.Other pages in this release
Labour market overview, UK

Average weekly earnings in Great Britain

Earnings and employment from Pay As You Earn Real Time Information, UK

Employment in the UK

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2.Main points
The estimated number of vacancies in the UK fell by 42,000, or 5.3%, on the quarter, to 761,000 in February to April 2025, which was the 34th consecutive quarterly decline.

Total estimated vacancies were down by 131,000, or 14.7%, in February to April 2025 from the level of a year ago, and 34,000 (4.3%) below their pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) January to March 2020 level.

The number of unemployed people per vacancy was 2.1 in January to March 2025, up from 1.9 in the previous quarter (October to December 2024).

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3.Vacancies for February to April 2025

Figure 1: The estimated number of vacancies decreased on the quarter to 761,000, standing at 34,000 (4.3%) below its January to March 2020 pre-coronavirus level
Number of vacancies in the UK, seasonally adjusted, February to April 2006, to February to April 2025
Feb to Apr 2025Feb to Apr 2021Feb to Apr 2017Feb to Apr 2013Feb to Apr 200902505007501,0001,2501,500Thousands
Apr to June 2024
● Thousands: 868
Source: Vacancy Survey from the Office for National Statistics
Download this chartFigure 1: The estimated number of vacancies decreased on the quarter to 761,000, standing at 34,000 (4.3%) below its January to March 2020 pre-coronavirus level
Image .csv .xls
The estimated number of vacancies fell by 42,000 (5.3%) to 761,000 in February to April 2025. This was the 34th consecutive quarterly decline, with the total number of vacancies decreasing by an estimated 538,000 since its peak in March to May 2022.

Total estimated vacancies are now 34,000 (4.3%) below their pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic January to March 2020 level.

The estimated total number of vacancies decreased by 5.3% from the previous quarter, falling in 13 out of the 18 industry sectors. The largest percentage decrease in vacancies was in the construction sector at 26.7%, followed by other service activities at 17.0%. The industry with the largest volume decrease in vacancies was again construction, which fell by 11,000 vacancies, followed by manufacturing at 9,000.

When comparing February to April 2025 with the same period last year, total vacancies decreased by 131,000 (14.7%), with declines in 17 of the 18 industry sectors. The industry with the largest percentage decrease in vacancies was the other service activities industry, which was down by 34.4%. This was followed by mining and quarrying, which was down by 23.5%. The only industry sector with an increase in vacancy estimates compared with the same period last year was water supply, sewerage, waste and remediation activities, up by 1,000 (9.7%).

The total estimated number of vacancies is 34,000 (4.3%) below its January to March 2020 pre-coronavirus level. There are 11 industry sectors where the latest vacancies estimates are below pre-coronavirus levels, by a combined total of 61,000 vacancies. The largest level decrease relative to pre-coronavirus levels is in wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, which has 29,000 fewer vacancies than at its pre-coronavirus level.

Read the full ONS report HERE