Burnham Inherits Cooling UK Labour Market as Vacancies Halve and Pay Growth Slumps

New Prime Minister Andy Burnham unveiled his cabinet the same week ONS data showed UK job vacancies at 712,000 — nearly half their 2022 peak. Private sector pay growth fell to 2.9%. Unemployment held at 4.9%. Payrolled employment dropped 90,000 year-on-year through May. The figures precede Burnham's administration but define the economic terrain his government inherits.