Number of UK job hunters rises at fastest rate since Covid pandemic
The number of people hunting for jobs in Britain surged in June at the fastest rate since the height of the Covid pandemic, industry figures show, amid growing business fears over tax rises and the economic outlook.The snapshot from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and the accountancy firm KPMG showed the number of new candidates looking for work rose at the sharpest rate since November 2020, when the UK entered the second nationwide lockdown.The trade body representing Britain’s recruitment industry blamed the “scar tissue” left by tax rises introduced in April by the government, including a £25bn increase in employer national insurance contributions (NICs).In a survey of 400 UK recruitment and employment consultancies, the REC found that permanent placements had dropped at the fastest pace in 22 months, alongside weaker levels of pay growth and reports of redundancies and reduced appetite for staff.The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is under pressure to reboot Britain’s economy after output unexpectedly shrank for a second consecutive month in May, fuelled by a downturn in construction and manufacturing.
Labour’s growth plans are under the microscope amid mounting speculation over the need for large tax rises in the autumn budget, after Keir Starmer’s high-stakes welfare U-turn on disability benefits earlier this month,While ministers have warned of “financial consequences” after the backtracking, company bosses say a fresh round of tax rises would add to the pressure on businesses already struggling with global uncertainty from Donald Trump’s trade wars,Jon Holt, group chief executive and UK senior partner at KPMG, said ongoing geopolitical turbulence and the threat of rising employment costs was resulting in a “wait and see” approach among employers,“As we head into the second half of the year, global headwinds will continue to impact the overall economic outlook, but clear priorities set out in the industrial and trade strategies and growth in the services sector should provide some of that confidence business leaders need to start planning future investments and to consider their hiring activities,”The latest snapshot showed the retail sector had recorded the steepest reduction in demand for permanent staff across eight job categories monitored by the REC survey.
The only sectors to record a rise in vacancies were construction and engineering.The rise in the number of available candidates for jobs, tighter company budgets and weakness in hiring demand hit pay growth in June, with starting salaries and temp wages rising only modestly.Sign up to Business TodayGet set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morningafter newsletter promotionOfficial jobs market figures show unemployment rose to 4.6% in the three months to April, up from 4.5% in the previous three-month period, to reach the highest level since July 2021.
The latest snapshot covering the three months to May is due to be published on Thursday.Separate HMRC figures show more than 250,000 jobs have been lost in the UK since Reeves’s autumn budget.Neil Carberry, chief executive of the REC, said: “Much of that [hiring] hesitation stems from the scar tissue left by the spring tax hikes and fear of further business tax rises.“But underlying this, there are some signs of improving demand.Temporary vacancies, especially in the private sector, are resilient.
And we are seeing more sectors adding vacancies in construction, logistics, engineering and healthcare,There is potential out there – if businesses are given a clear run at doing what they do best,”
‘Living my dream’: Sinner delights in Wimbledon triumph against Alcaraz
Jannik Sinner said he is living his dream after defeating Carlos Alcaraz in spectacular fashion to win his first Wimbledon title. The world No 1 beat the two-time defending champion 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to become the first Italian to win a Wimbledon singles title and clinch his fourth grand slam crown.“It’s amazing to be in this position,” Sinner said. “We were talking before the match, we would never have thought to be in this position back in the days when I was young. This was only a dream; dream of the dream as it was so far away from where I am from
‘Great for tennis’: Alcaraz lauds rivalry after Sinner crowned Wimbledon king
First Jannik Sinner hit a wicked serve, straight down the T. Then he sank to his knees, head bowed as in prayer, in thanks and absolution. It was an appropriate gesture for the first Italian to win a singles title at Wimbledon. But it carried a deeper significance, too.Five weeks ago in the French Open, Sinner had watched three match points come and go against Carlos Alcaraz, before losing a five-set, 5hr 29min epic against the Spaniard
Sinner reaches for the sweets and comes away with the whole jar at Wimbledon | Jonathan Liew
The Italian was overcome with joy after learning harsh lesson from his French Open defeat at the hands of Carlos AlcarazAs a boy, Jannik Sinner was a champion skier. As he stood on Centre Court match point up against Carlos Alcaraz, perhaps some of the old skills kicked in. Skiing teaches balance, it teaches flexibility and endurance, but most of all it teaches faith. There is a moment in every slide, before friction kicks in, when the body is basically at the mercy of powder and physics. And the greatest skiers learn that this is the moment to hold your nerve
England look to crowd to spur them to final-day Test win against India
England have called on a sell-out day-five crowd to roar them to victory at Lord’s after a raucous atmosphere towards the end of Sunday spurred them to take four India wickets and set up a cliffhanger conclusion to the third Test.England were bowled out for 192 to leave India chasing 193 and England 10 wickets to take a 2-1 lead in the series. Though the first-innings centurion KL Rahul was unbeaten on 33 at the close, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair and Shubman Gill were all dismissed cheaply before Ben Stokes uprooted the off stump of Akash Deep, the nightwatcher, with the final ball of the day to leave the tourists 58 for four overnight.“The buzz around the ground really gave the boys the lift they needed,” said Marcus Trescothick, the team’s assistant coach. “And a couple of late wickets gave them that hope that we’re bang on the money
Chris Gotterup keeps nerve to hold off Rory McIlroy and win Scottish Open
East Lothian witnessed a David v Goliath story as Rory McIlroy was denied victory immediately before his return to Northern Ireland for the Open Championship. Chris Gotterup, who arrived at the Scottish Open as the 158th-ranked player in the world, saw off McIlroy for the biggest win of his career.McIlroy’s thoughts have already turned towards Royal Portrush and the major that has carried even more significance for the 36-year-old since he completed a career grand slam at Augusta National in April.“There is no frustration,” McIlroy said. “I’m really happy with where everything is
Ignore the memes, Harry – those splayed stumps speak of Brook’s focus on glory | Barney Ronay
By strict formal logic any serious defence of Harry Brook’s stump-splaying dismissal 13 minutes before lunch on the fourth day at Lord’s should be showy, ill-timed and based almost entirely on hot air and flimflam.You could probably also chuck in unapologetic and maddeningly super-cool, peering down from its balcony, guns out, wraparounds in place. Be where your keyboard is. This, mate, this is how we save colour match reporting. It’s just the way I sidebar
UK government announces £63m funding for EV charging infrastructure
Why Labour should target happiness alongside economic growth | Heather Stewart
Most people in France, Germany, Italy and Spain would support UK rejoining EU, poll finds
Reform wants to cut council diversity roles. The problem is there are already barely any
Unite attacks Angela Rayner over ‘abhorrent’ handling of Birmingham bin strikes
Starmer and Reeves promised honesty about public finances. Can they stay the course?