The UK job market experienced a mixed performance in April, with job openings falling to 854,171, a 0.94 percent decrease from March and an 18.34 percent drop compared to April 2023.
However, average salaries saw a significant rise, hitting some of their highest levels, according to the latest UK Job Market Report by Adzuna.
Despite the decline in job openings, average advertised salaries rose by 0.45 percent month-on-month to £38,810, marking a 3.06 percent annual increase. This surge in wages reflects the competitive nature of the current job market as employers vie for skilled talent amidst a tight labour market.
The report highlights that it now takes an average of 39 days to fill a role, up from 35.6 days in March, indicating that the reduction in vacancies is mitigating some negative impacts of a tight labour market.
Job openings & Sector-Specific Trends
While most sectors saw declines in advertised vacancies, there were notable exceptions. The Hospitality & Catering (+4.75%), Manufacturing (+4.34%), and Teaching (+3.85%) sectors experienced growth. Conversely, PR, Advertising & Marketing (-13.84%), and Domestic Help & Cleaning (-7.91%) sectors saw significant declines.
Year-over-year, the Travel sector was the only one to see an increase in job openings (+2.73%), while Domestic Help & Cleaning (-49.01%) and Trade & Construction (-46.73%) saw the most significant reductions.
Regional Salary Increases
Regionally, the East Midlands saw the highest annual salary increase at 6.68 percent, driven by growth in professional services, science, and tech industries. London continues to have the highest average salaries at £44,880.
Employment Hotspots and Challenges
Cambridge, Guildford, and Exeter remain the most favourable cities for job seekers, with Cambridge boasting 7,394 vacancies and only 0.33 job seekers per role. In contrast, Bradford remains one of the most challenging cities for job seekers, with 7.82 job seekers per vacancy.
Job Seekers’ Interests
Warehouse work has been the highest-trending job on Adzuna’s Intelligence Portal for nearly a year. Healthcare support and social care worker roles have also seen high demand, reflecting the continued interest in these sectors.
Andrew Hunter, co-founder of Adzuna, commented, “April was another challenging month for job hunters across the UK, though there are signs of hope. Rising vacancies in sectors like Hospitality, Manufacturing, and Teaching suggest increasing business confidence. Employers are also willing to offer higher salaries to attract skilled workers, particularly in regions like the East Midlands.”
Adzuna’s monthly UK Job Market Report provides a comprehensive view of employment opportunities across the country, drawing from over 1,000 sources. The data is also used by the Number 10 Dashboard, the Cabinet Office, and the Office for National Statistics to track labour market trends.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.