A slowdown across the UK’s construction sector eased last month as housebuilding activity picked up pace, despite facing the longest stretch of job cutting since the pandemic, a new survey shows. The latest S&P Global UK construction purchasing managers’ index (PMI) showed a reading of 46.2 in September, up from 45.5 in August and its … Continued
According to Make UK, the UK’s manufacturing sector has risen in the global rankings to reach 11th place. This is up one place on last year’s world rankings and comes after the sector dropped out of the top ten for the first time in the previous data. Make UK’s annual ‘Manufacturing – The Facts’ report … Continued
The ONS published its latest labour market figures this morning. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) Deputy Chief Executive Kate Shoesmith said: “The labour market remains challenging, with many businesses maintaining a cautious approach to hiring. But if we are to harness the optimism businesses tell us they have for future recruitment later this year, … Continued
The UK’s economy will be the fastest-growing in the EU for two years. It seems the UK is on the up in terms of economic growth: the International Monetary Fund, or IMF, has predicted some strong economic growth in light of softened US tariffs, and the news bodes well for the UK – growth is … Continued
Hiring intentions for the next year climbed to the highest level since 2015, despite cost pressures, according to the latest Lloyds Business Barometer. The third consecutive monthly increase was driven by the services sector, which helped offset softer hiring signals in retail and manufacturing. Sixty per cent of all businesses surveyed expect to hire more … Continued
A ‘small burst of hiring’ meant that new UK job postings went up by just over 6% in June, according to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation’s Labour Market Tracker. The number of posts was behind the number measured a year ago, but some regions including London and the South East showed higher numbers than last … Continued
The UK jobs market posted a modest rise in new job adverts last month, suggesting early signs of resilience despite economic headwinds and growing pressure on employers from tax increases. According to new data from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), the number of new job adverts rose by 0.3 per cent in May to … Continued
Latest bulletin from the Office for National Statistics shows that monthly construction output in Great Britain is estimated to have grown by 0.9% in April 2025. This is the third consecutive month of growth for the industry, following increases of 0.5% in March and 0.2% in February. The increase in monthly output in April 2025 … Continued
The UK manufacturing sector shrank again last month but may be “turning a corner”, according to new figures. Factories saw the recent downturn linked to trade tensions, US tariffs and higher costs slow down during May but highlighted that confidence was still “subdued”. The S&P Global UK manufacturing PMI survey, watched closely by economists, showed a reading … Continued
Britain’s services sector returned to tepid growth last month after jitters about Donald Trump’s tariffs caused the sector to shrink in April for the first time in a year and a half. The closely-watched S&P Global Purchasing Managers’ Index for Britain’s services sector increased to 50.9 in May from 49.0 in April, and above an … Continued