Vacancies and jobs in the UK - June 2025

10th June 2025

The estimated number of vacancies in the UK fell by 63,000, or 7.9%, on the quarter, to 736,000 in March to May 2025; this is the 35th consecutive quarterly decline.

Total estimated vacancies were down by 150,000, or 16.9%, in March to May 2025 from the level of a year ago, and 59,000 (7.4%) below their pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) January to March 2020 level.

The number of unemployed people per vacancy was 2.2 in February to April 2025; this is up from 1.9 in the previous quarter (November 2024 to January 2025).

The estimated number of workforce jobs in the UK was 37.1 million in March 2025; this is an increase of 187,000 (0.5%) from December 2024, with increases of 120,000 (0.4%) in the employee jobs component and 70,000 (1.6%) in the self-employment jobs component.

The estimated number of workforce jobs was up by 304,000 (0.8%) in March 2025 from the level of a year ago; human health and social work activities had the largest increase of 166,000 (3.3%).

The estimated number of vacancies fell by 63,000 (7.9%) to 736,000 in March to May 2025. This was the 35th consecutive quarterly decline, with the total number of vacancies decreasing by an estimated 564,000 since its peak in March to May 2022. Feedback from our Vacancy Survey suggests some firms may not be recruiting new workers or replacing workers who have left.

Total estimated vacancies are now 59,000 (7.4%) below their pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic January to March 2020 level.

The headline vacancy estimates are based on three-month averages, which naturally involve some time lag.

The estimated total number of vacancies decreased by 7.9% from the previous quarter, falling in 14 out of the 18 industry sectors. The largest percentage decrease in vacancies was 36.9% in other service activities. The industry with the largest volume decreases in vacancies was professional, scientific and technical services, which fell by 11,000 vacancies. This was followed by construction, which fell 9,000.

Total vacancies decreased by 150,000 (16.9%) when comparing March to May 2025 with the same period last year. There were 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 44.1%.

The total estimated number of vacancies is 59,000 (7.4%) below its January to March 2020 pre-pandemic level. There are 13 industry sectors where the latest vacancies estimates are below pre-pandemic levels by a combined total of 80,000 vacancies. The largest level decrease relative to pre-pandemic levels is in wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, which has 32,000 fewer vacancies than its pre-pandemic level.

Read he full ONS report HERE