ONS: UK job vacancies fall to 691,000 as small firms scale back recruitment

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on 20 October 2026 that the number of job vacancies in the UK fell in the latest quarter. Early estimates for July to September 2026 put vacancies at 691,000, down 21,000 (2.9%) on April to June.

Largest fall since the start of the year

This is the biggest quarterly fall since January to March 2026, when vacancies also fell by 21,000. Vacancies have dropped by 28,000 in total since the start of the year and by 37,000 (5.1%) over the year. The ONS notes that, outside the Covid-19 pandemic, the last time vacancies were at or below 691,000 was July to September 2014, when there were 686,000.

The ONS says the fall is mainly among smaller firms. Its Vacancy Survey suggests they may be hiring less because of increased labour costs.

Other labour market figures

• The employment rate for people aged 16 to 64 was 75.3% in June to August 2026, up 0.2 percentage points on both the year and the quarter.
• The unemployment rate for people aged 16 and over was 4.7%, down 0.1 percentage points on both the year and the quarter.
• The economic inactivity rate for people aged 16 to 64 was 20.9%.
• The Claimant Count in September 2026 rose on the month and the year to an estimated 1.701 million. This is a provisional figure and may be revised.
• The number of payrolled employees (HMRC data) fell by 111,000 (0.4%) between August 2025 and August 2026, but was largely unchanged on the month. The early estimate for September is 30.3 million.
• Annual growth in average regular earnings (excluding bonuses) was 3.7% in June to August 2026. Growth in total earnings (including bonuses) was also 3.7%, down from 3.9% in the previous period, which the ONS says is its lowest level in nearly six years. Public sector growth was 6.3% and private sector growth was 3.0%.

The ONS says the labour market remains broadly flat in 2026. The next release is due on 17 November 2026.

What this means for people looking for work in the UK

Fewer vacancies, particularly at smaller firms, may mean fewer adverts and more competition for jobseekers. However, the ONS data covers the whole economy and does not break vacancies down by sector or nationality, so it cannot show how the change affects specific groups. At the same time, the unemployment rate edged down and earnings grew by 3.7% a year.