Labour’s policies are ‘a hindrance’ to hiring, REC says

Data from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) reveals that the number of job vacancies in the UK has returned to pre-pandemic levels, with 1.44m active postings in December. This marks a 5.5% decrease from November and a nearly 17% drop in new job postings. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicate that vacancies have decreased for 29 consecutive quarters, marking the longest contraction since 2000. Neil Carberry, chief executive of the REC, said: “The UK has just experienced its longest jobs market contraction since 2000.” He added that Labour’s policies feel “more of a hindrance than a help” but he remains hopeful for a recovery by 2025.