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UK Job Adverts Slide in April as Hiring Cools, REC Says

Recruiters say rising costs are making employers hesitate on permanent hires.

Overview

  • REC data show April posted 711,733 new job adverts, down 7.7% from March and 5.6% from a year earlier.
  • Recent weeks brought more listings for nannies and au pairs, sales executives, and delivery drivers, pointing to shifting demand.
  • Recruiters report the steepest drops in adverts for aircraft pilots, air traffic controllers, travel agents, and train drivers.
  • REC chief Neil Carberry warned the market has turned more unpredictable, citing the Easter lull, sensitivity to Gulf tensions, and a risk from sudden UK political uncertainty.
  • The Independent notes earlier surveys that found many firms still plan to hire in 2026, with strong engineering openings, while Jobhire.ai says remote roles are now far harder to secure than office or hybrid posts.