Overview
- Acas said on Wednesday that a poll of 1,000 businesses found about one third of employers are considering staff cuts by the start of 2027.
- The conciliation service’s research projects roughly 327,000 job losses in 2026, which would outstrip last year’s redundancy total.
- Larger firms are more likely to cut jobs, with retail, hospitality, public services and parts of the media cited as most vulnerable and the BBC already planning major savings.
- Acas urged employers to explore alternatives to redundancies and to consult staff early because failures to follow legal consultation and fair‑selection rules can trigger costly legal action.
- Rising payroll costs and automation are likely to hit young and lower‑paid workers hardest and have already prompted strikes and local industrial action that could spread if cuts proceed.