REC Press Office

The Recruitment & Employment Confederation is the voice of the recruitment industry. We're making great work happen. #YourREC #RecruitmentForRecovery

[REC Press Office @RECPress]

An @ONS overview of business and workforce data published today shows:

· Total potential redundancies 4% higher than the past week and 62% higher from past year.
· Number of employers considering redundancies is 2% lower from the past week but 14% higher from past year.
· No change in jobs within small businesses.
· Number of new VAT reporters 9% lower from past month and 7% from last year.
· Year-on-year growth in sales by small businesses up three percentage points on the past month but four percentage points lower than the past year.

(Note: the data above does cover slightly different months) https://t.co/kK3hLWJlCA

[Recruitment & Employment Confederation @RECmembers]

What are employers really looking for?

Not the finished product, but people with the curiosity, resilience and willingness to learn.

In her latest article for FE News, our Director of Campaigns Shazia Ejaz explores why employers are increasingly hiring for potential as well as skills.

🔗 https://t.co/6ZERXMfLUr

[REC Press Office @RECPress]

Responding to the publication of Guaranteed Hours consultation this morning, @RECNeil said: “Getting these proposals wrong would be a disaster for workers, with unemployment rising and youth unemployment a particularly worrying challenge.” https://t.co/I2RrIxvucZ

[REC Press Office @RECPress]

On today’s Alan Milburn report on youth worklessness, REC’s Shazia Ejaz said: “This is a reminder that we need business, government and education providers to go harder at the problem and work more closely together.”
https://t.co/RPHYWvcX2X

[REC Press Office @RECPress]

https://t.co/wgCLBfYqku

[REC Press Office @RECPress]

Great to see media interest this week in our efforts to convince the Scotland and Wales First Ministers of the need for a rethink of the Guaranteed Hours proposals.

[REC Press Office @RECPress]

https://t.co/neDM9lg760

[Neil Carberry @RECNeil]

It was good to discuss this with @SallyBundockBBC this morning - the way to get going is to boost business confidence to hire. Firms and households are sitting on cash that could be working harder in our economy. Stability & support from Government would help a great deal. (2/2)

[REC Press Office @RECPress]

@RECNeil @SallyBundockBBC REC press release: https://t.co/ePBXeaFerl

[Recruitment & Employment Confederation @RECmembers]

UK job postings dipped in April amid the Easter holiday lull and Gulf headwinds.

New job postings totalled 711,733 in April 2026, down -7.7% from March and -5.6% year-on-year.

🔹 Active job postings saw only a slight monthly contraction (-0.8%), with 1.6 million roles advertised in April.
🔹 London continues to lead hiring growth, with Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea/Hammersmith & Fulham, and Lambeth among the top hotspots.
🔹 Eight of the top ten growth hotspots were in London – often an early indicator of wider UK hiring trends.
🔹 Active job postings remain 15.1% higher than in December 2025, despite this month’s slowdown.

Read the latest labour market insight: https://t.co/k5Y5MyttxG

[REC Press Office @RECPress]

On today’s King’s Speech, @RECNeil said: “Government has put its confidence in business to deliver growth in today’s King’s Speech. It now needs to step on the gas and turn that ambition into law quickly, so firms can invest and expand with certainty."
More: https://t.co/TRZyDo7eQW

[REC Press Office @RECPress]

“A right to guaranteed hours after just 12 weeks is a blow to a fledgling job market recovery already struggling with the effects of the Gulf crisis,” says @RECNeil.
More: https://t.co/q1Rmy4gXeW

[Recruitment & Employment Confederation @RECmembers]

New FOI data raises serious questions about current NHS staffing policy.

The findings show that in some NHS trusts, Bank shifts are costing significantly more than agency cover, challenging claims that reducing agency staffing automatically cuts costs.

We’ve written to the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee requesting an inquiry into the impact of current policy on costs, workforce planning and patient care.

We’re also calling for an urgent review of NHS staffing policy, including greater engagement with regulated agency providers, as the NHS prepares its 10 Year Workforce Plan.

Read more ⬇️
https://t.co/Ut6dEdC5FW

[Recruitment & Employment Confederation @RECmembers]

The latest #ReportonJobs suggests the improving momentum seen earlier in the year is being tempered by the Gulf conflict and ongoing economic uncertainty.

While hiring conditions remain challenging, there are signs of resilience, with employers increasingly turning to temporary workers in a more cautious environment.

Read more 🔗

[Recruitment & Employment Confederation @RECmembers]

How competitive is your pay and reward offer?

Our latest research with KPMG gives you sector-specific insight to benchmark salaries, review bonuses and assess your reward package.

REC members can download the full report🔗 https://t.co/XZwfubAuJ6

[REC Press Office @RECPress]

@RECmembers See more in our press release: Recruitment firms set to sustain bonuses despite economic headwinds – REC Read more: https://t.co/xWYjzR0Z9H

[REC Press Office @RECPress]

The @ONS has published its ‘Business demography, quarterly, UK: January to March 2026’ report, which includes data on business creations and closures.

The good news is that the number of business closures in the UK in quarter 1 2026 was 83,195, which is 1.1% lower than in quarter 1 2025.

There was a decrease in the number of business closures in nine out of 16 main industrial groups in quarter 1 2026, compared with quarter 1 2025; the most significant decreases came from the transportation and storage, and business administration and support services industries.

The bad news is when comparing Q1 2025 to Q12026, there were less business births in almost all industries apart from agriculture, forestry and fishing. The number of business creations in the UK in quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2026 was 78,650. This is 8.0% lower than the number of business creations in quarter 1 2025.
Here is REC’s breakdown from the ONS data on business births (Q1 2025 v Q1 2026) today:

· Agriculture, forestry and fishing: up 18.49% (in Q1 2026).
· Finance and insurance: down 25.66% (on Q1 2025).
· Health and social care: down 23.87%
· Education: down 13.39%
· Arts, entertainment, recreation and other services: down 11.72%
· Transportation and storage: down 11.37%
· Wholesale: down 9.80%
· Production: down 7.77%
· Business administration and support services: down 7.41%
· Accommodation and food services: down 7.2%
· Construction: down 7.07%
· Real estate: down 6.42%
· Professional, scientific and technical activities: down 5.58%
· Retail: down 4.64%
· Information and communication: down 3.3%
· Motor trades: down 1.74%

The full ONS data is here: https://t.co/PMBy4ptvfc