MARCH LABOUR MARKET SAW IMPROVEMENT DESPITE HEADWINDS

Posted on 28th April 2026

A bigger than expected bounce in pre-Easter hiring has helped to push the number of job postings above 1.6 million, according to the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) Labour Market Tracker. The number of active job postings in March 2026 was up 5.6% in comparison to February 2026 (which had 1,530,172 active job postings). Active job postings were also up by 5.1% last month when compared to March 2025.

This year’s stronger‑than‑usual uplift in sectors such as logistics, hospitality and some occupations in retail is a positive signal for business confidence and summer hiring prospects. It also reflects the relatively resilient initial response to the Gulf crisis that was reported by recruiters in their March billings data.

Headwinds from the macroeconomic situation are likely to be built if the crisis in the Gulf is not resolved this spring. But March hiring intentions have remained stronger than might be expected, matching a trend of greater-than-predicted resilience in the UK economy.

REC Chief Executive Neil Carberry said “Employers were clearly signalling that an upturn in hiring in the spring was likely at the turn of the year. Today’s report shows that improvement is happening despite some of the challenges the economy faces right now. How long this can sustain is the key question. Resolving the crisis in the Gulf would obviously make a major contribution to sustaining this cyclical upturn – but even without international progress, the government at home has options. Backing employers to invest by tackling the cost of employment crisis would be a great start, and reform of the guaranteed hours proposals into something practical and effective would be in the interest of workers and companies alike.”

For more information visit www.rec.uk.com.