May Labour Market Statistics: comment from the Institute for Employment Studies
13 May 2025
Commenting on today's figures, Seemanti Ghosh, Principal Economist at the Institute for Employment Studies said:
“Employment remains flat, with a modest decline in economic inactivity offset by a corresponding rise in unemployment suggesting that more people are now actively seeking work but are struggling to find it. This is reflected in the increase in the unemployment-to-vacancy ratio compared to the previous month. Employers continue to show caution in workforce investment, as evidenced by another drop in job vacancies now at a new low, and a further decline in payrolled employees.
"Against the backdrop of a cooling labour market and shifting policy environment, the economic outlook for the UK remains uncertain. The underlying trends reveal a fragile environment, where hiring confidence is weak and workforce planning is marked by hesitancy.”
Read our analysis here.
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 Seemanti Ghosh
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