UK job postings down 11% in H1 2026

UK job postings fell 11% in the first half of 2026 and stood 32% below their pre-pandemic baseline as of mid-July, according to Indeed's Mid-Year UK Labour Market Update.

Graduate job postings were down around 7% year-on-year and at their lowest level for this time of year since 2020. Summer seasonal postings, in sectors such as hospitality, retail, tourism and events, were at a four-year low. Indeed said the declines were concentrated in retail and hospitality, sectors it described as critical entry points for younger workers, against a backdrop of youth unemployment at its highest level in over a decade.

Advertised wage growth cooled to 3.9% annually over the three months to June, the slowest pace since February 2022, though pay pressures remained elevated in technology, healthcare and engineering, where skill shortages persist. Most occupational categories recorded year-on-year declines, with only a small number of areas in technology, engineering and healthcare seeing hiring demand increase.

Mentions of artificial intelligence in UK job postings reached a record 9.4% by the end of June, spanning functions including HR, marketing, finance and management. Jobseeker searches for AI-related roles have risen sevenfold since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022. The share of postings mentioning remote or hybrid working stood at 16.9% at the end of June, close to its recent peak, with two days a week in the office remaining the most common hybrid arrangement.

Jack Kennedy, senior economist at Indeed, said: "The UK's labour market is under sustained pressure. Hiring demand is falling across most parts of the economy, while posted wage growth is gradually cooling. That is particularly challenging for graduates and younger workers, who are competing for fewer opportunities to gain an initial foothold."