Job vacancies in the UK fell to an estimated 691,000 in July to September 2026, down 21,000 on the previous quarter, the Office for National Statistics said on 20 October. Outside the pandemic, that's the lowest level since 2014. The unemployment rate edged down to 4.7 percent.
Key takeaways
- Vacancies: 691,000, down 21,000 (2.9%) on the quarter and 37,000 on the year.
- Unemployment rate: 4.7% for June to August 2026, down 0.1 points.
- Employment rate: 75.3%, up 0.2 points.
- Regular pay growth: 3.7% a year. Private sector 3.0%, public sector 6.3%.
- Payrolled employees: 30.3 million in September (early estimate), down 66,000 on the year.
Why are vacancies falling?
The ONS says feedback from its Vacancy Survey continues to suggest that smaller firms may not be recruiting because of higher labour costs. Most of the latest fall came from those smaller businesses.
What's happening to pay?
Regular earnings, excluding bonuses, grew 3.7 percent a year, which the ONS describes as relatively stable over six periods. After inflation, regular pay grew 0.6 to 0.8 percent depending on the measure used. Total pay growth, including bonuses, was the weakest since 2020.
What does this mean if you're looking for work in the UK?
Fewer openings, especially at small firms, mean more competition per role. Larger employers and the public sector are relatively steadier. If you're applying from abroad, check sponsorship first, and read our guide on how to find visa-sponsored jobs abroad. For pay comparisons, see what counts as a good salary by country.
The next ONS labour market release is on 17 November 2026.
What is the background?
The UK labour market has been cooling for more than two years. Vacancies have fallen steadily from their 2022 peak, and unemployment has edged up. Pay growth has slowed as well, which takes pressure off inflation but also means smaller raises. The Bank of England watches these figures closely when it sets interest rates, so they feed straight into mortgages and business plans.
Who is affected?
Young people and graduates are often hit first when vacancies fall, because employers cut entry-level hiring before laying off experienced staff. People moving to the UK on skilled worker visas also face more competition for sponsored roles. Workers hoping for a big pay rise when they change jobs may find offers are smaller than a year or two ago.
What should job seekers do now?
- Apply early. With fewer vacancies, popular roles close quickly.
- Look at sectors with government backing, such as construction, clean energy and defence, where new apprenticeship and training schemes are opening.
- If you need visa sponsorship, check the employer holds a sponsor licence before applying. Our guide to visa-sponsored jobs explains how.
- Benchmark pay. Use the ONS figures as context when you discuss salary, and see our guide to good salaries by country.
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About the author
Lutaf Junijo
Career Content Editor, World Careers Hub
Lutaf Junijo is the Career Content Editor at World Careers Hub and Dev Global Jobs. He writes and edits our guides on jobs, CVs, visas, salaries and careers abroad, and he runs our official social media. Every fact is checked against official and trusted sources, named in the post, and errors are corrected as soon as readers report them.
