The UK job market has shifted, and if you're looking for a permanent role this year, you need to shift with it. This is the toughest market I've seen in a long time, and the candidates who succeed are the ones who face that with honesty and prepare accordingly.
UK vacancies have fallen to around 711,000 in the three months to March 2026, the lowest level since early 2021, according to the ONS. There are roughly 2.4 job seekers per vacancy, close to pandemic-era lows. The chief executive of Robert Walters has described this as the longest hiring downturn the recruitment industry has ever experienced, longer than the financial crisis and longer than the pandemic.
That said, there are signs of stabilisation. Permanent placements fell only slightly in March, the slowest rate of decline in three years (KPMG and REC UK Report on Jobs). Engineering, construction, IT, technology and finance are showing renewed activity. Opportunities are out there, but you'll need to work harder to land them.
Locally, we are seeing the same as the national picture. Some industries are flying and are really struggling to recruit (think professional services such as Solicitors, Accountants, etc.). Others are struggling, and competition for roles is fierce. You need to be responsive at the moment when looking for a role – the phrase you snooze, you lose springs to mind! Be clear on what you will and won't do and where your compromise point is – remember the perfect role doesn’t normally exist, but if its 90% of the way there, then great!
Here are my five top tips:
- Do your homework before you apply. Research the company, the sector, and the salary band. Generic applications get filtered out fast when employers are receiving hundreds per role. A tailored CV and covering letter that show genuine interest will lift you above the pile.
- Be realistic about salary and progression. Median pay awards are sitting at around 3%, according to CIPD data. If you're hoping for a 20% jump by moving roles, you may be disappointed. Focus on the right role with the right employer, and the financial progression follows.
- Be honest about flexibility. Hybrid working is widely available, but fully remote roles are scarcer than they were a couple of years ago. Decide what you can genuinely accept before you interview, not after the offer arrives. Wasting your time and theirs helps no one.
- Treat your CV as a living document. Update it every six months, even when you're not actively looking. Skills, certifications, measurable results, and recent projects all need to be current. When the right opportunity appears, you don't want to spend a fortnight trying to remember what you achieved in 2024. You would not believe the number of CVs we see with no contact details at all – so no phone or email!
- Ask better questions at an interview. Progression pathways, training budgets, team culture, management style, and how success is measured in the first six months. Employers expect thoughtful questions, and what you ask tells them as much about you as how you answer.
The market is tight, employer decisions are slower, and competition is fierce. None of that should put you off, but it does mean preparation, patience, and realistic expectations matter more than ever.
If you're thinking about your next move, get in touch for a confidential conversation.