UK job vacancies slip 10.6% below pre-pandemic levels as five-year low holds

The Office for National Statistics reported that vacancies fell by 31,000 in the three months to May 2026, extending a quarterly decline that has pushed them 10.6% below pre-coronavirus baselines. The February-to-April reading of 705,000 marked the lowest level in five years. Annual falls continued across sectors, though fewer industries recorded declines, hinting the steepest adjustments may have passed.