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Reporting on data from thousands of direct employers across the UK.

Carrying out in-depth analysis of all vacancies advertised throughout the UK, Ashdown continually reviews the latest UK job market data and presents an overview of the current employment market. Request further information or benchmarking on a specific position, or visit our IT, HR, Accountancy & Marketing insights pages to get a more detailed view of individual sectors.

UK Job Market Update

The UK job market is no longer as candidate-short as it was during the post-pandemic hiring peak, but it would be misleading to describe it as an easy market for employers. The picture is now more balanced: overall vacancy levels have softened, candidate availability has improved, but demand remains resilient for commercially important skills.

ONS data shows UK vacancies fell to 707,000 in March–May 2026, down 2.6% on the previous quarter and 4.2% year-on-year. There are now 2.5 unemployed people per vacancy, suggesting supply has loosened compared with a year ago. (Office for National Statistics)

The latest KPMG and REC Report on Jobs shows the same pattern. Permanent placements are still slightly down, but the decline has eased, while temporary billings rose at their fastest rate since April 2023. This suggests employers are still cautious about long-term commitments, but are using interim, temporary and contract hiring to access skills where demand is more immediate.

Across Ashdown’s core markets, supply and demand are uneven. In IT, demand remains strongest for AI, cyber security, data, cloud and transformation skills, while more generalist or entry-level technology roles face greater competition.

In accountancy and finance, employers remain focused on qualified accountants, finance business partners, tax, and audit, particularly where they can support cost control and decision-making.

In HR, demand is being shaped by regulation, workforce planning and employee relations. CIPD’s Spring 2026 Labour Market Outlook found that 63% of employers plan to recruit in the next three months, but 22% are also planning redundancies, highlighting a market where hiring and restructuring are happening at the same time. (CIPD)

In marketing, budget confidence has improved. The latest IPA Bellwether Report showed a net +7.3% of companies revised marketing budgets upwards in Q1 2026, the strongest reading for almost two years. Events, PR, online advertising, video and direct marketing all saw increased spend, supporting continued demand for digital, content, CRM and performance marketing skills.

For employers, the conclusion is clear - there is more candidate supply than two years ago, but not necessarily more of the right talent. Hiring success now depends on speed, clarity, competitive pay and a flexible offer that appeals to skilled professionals who still have choices.