28/04/2025
New UK job postings surged in March, climbing 10.3% from February to 749,311 and returning the trend to January levels, according to the latest Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC)/ Lightcast monthly Labour Market Tracker.
The overall number of active job postings in March 2025 stood at 1,583,465, an increase of 2.3% on the number of job postings in February 2025.
“There’s no denying it feels tough to employ people as the cost of taking workers on rises, but businesses are resilient, and they continue to create opportunities,” REC Chief Executive Neil Carberry said in a press release. “With a steady 1.6m active job adverts out there, employers are seeing glimmers of hope. The labour market is stabilising and February’s economic growth figures offered cautious optimism, while the UK looks relatively well-placed to weather some of the external shocks from shifting global trade policy.”
When comparing regions Scotland (4.6%) again had the highest increase in the number of job postings and London follows with a 4.4% increase, whereas the only decrease was in Northern Ireland (-3.3%).
East Dunbartonshire (24.0%), Argyll and Bute for the second month in a row saw the second highest increase in the number of job postings (Feb 2025 23.5% and March 2025 22.7%) and Central Bedfordshire (16.3%) showed the highest increase in job postings. Of the top 10 counties that had the highest increase in job postings nine were based in Scotland and Wales.
By sector, the agricultural sector had a 4.2% increase in the number of job postings from February to March 2025. Most roles saw an increase in job postings, but farmers had the biggest uptick in postings, rising 39.8% from the previous month making it the fastest rising role in the UK.
In March 2025 there were over 87,000 job posts in the finance and accounting sector. This is an increase of 1.6% as compared to February 2025.
There were over 69,000 blue-collar roles posted in March 2025. This is a 3.9% increase from February 2025. Overall, most blue-collar jobs saw an increase in March 2025 as compared to February 2025.
The REC cautioned that the stabilising of the job market in March 2025 will be tested by rising costs of employment in April as employer’s national insurance contributions rise alongside the national minimum wage.
“But with last week’s more positive economic growth numbers for February, with growth across all the main sectors, there are some signs of momentum in the economy that may push back against the effects of rising costs,” the REC stated. “At least before the sudden triggering of global tariff trade negotiations by the US in April 2025.”
Original Article: Staffing Industry
Are you an employer or organisation that needs to hire talent in Wales? Contact our digital recruitment specialist Gareth Allison on 02920 628808
Connecting talent to opportunity in a competitive market. Browse for the top companies hiring near you.
