Vacancies and jobs in the UK September 2025 - Reducing Vacancy Numbersy

17th September 2025

The estimated number of vacancies in the UK fell by 10,000 (1.4%) on the quarter, to 728,000 in June to August 2025.

This is the 38th consecutive period where vacancy numbers have dropped compared with the previous three months, with vacancies decreasing in half of the 18 industry sectors.

Total estimated vacancies were down by 119,000 (14.0%) in June to August 2025 from the level of a year ago, and are 67,000 (8.4%) below their pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) January to March 2020 level.

The number of unemployed people per vacancy was 2.3 in May to July 2025; this is up from 2.2 in the previous quarter (February to April 2025).

The estimated number of workforce jobs in the UK was 36.8 million in June 2025; this is a decrease of 182,000 (0.5%) from March 2025, with decreases of 3,000 (0.0%) in the employee jobs component and 159,000 (3.7%) in the self-employment jobs component.

The estimated number of workforce jobs was up by 139,000 (0.4%) in June 2025 from the level of a year ago; human health and social work activities had the largest increase of 68,000 (1.3%).

Read the full ONS report HERE