The September Job Market Overview from NewJobToday: Stabilisation and Growth in several sectors

Tuesday, September 16, 2025
The September Job Market Overview from NewJobToday: Stabilisation and Growth in several sectors
 
 The latest labour market data for the UK published today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS 16th September 2025) reveals a mixed but ultimately resilient picture of the UK job market -with positive trends in employment and earnings. While some shifts are ongoing, the report highlights a stable employment rate and healthy wage growth, offering a positive outlook for job seekers and those already in work.
Key Highlights from the September ONS data:
  • Strong Employment Rate: The UK employment rate for people aged 16 to 64 was estimated at 75.2% in May to July 2025. This rate is up both from the latest quarter and a year ago, indicating a growing number of people in the workforce.
  • Workforce Jobs on the Rise: The total number of workforce jobs in the UK increased to 36.8 million in June 2025. This represents a significant increase of 139,000 jobs compared to a year ago, showcasing a significant expansion in the overall job market.
  • Public Sector Hiring Shows Strength: Public sector employment is a notable bright spot, reaching an estimated 6.17 million in June 2025. This marks an increase of 75,000 jobs compared to the previous year, demonstrating strong growth in this vital sector.
  • Real Wages Continue to Grow: Employees in Great Britain are seeing their remuneration stretch further. Annual growth in regular earnings (excluding bonuses) was 4.8%, outpacing inflation. This means that, in real terms, pay is growing, giving workers more purchasing power.
  • Economic Inactivity Decreases: The rate of economic inactivity for people aged 16 to 64 has fallen to 21.1% in May to July 2025. This is a positive sign, as it indicates more individuals are moving from inactivity and into the labour market.
While the data also reflects a slight decrease in payrolled employees and job vacancies, the overall picture from a jobs perspective is encouraging. The growth in the total number of workforce jobs and a rising employment rate suggest that the UK labour market remains robust. With real wages on the rise and a growing public sector, there is good reason for job seekers to be optimistic about their prospects.
Despite a challenging marketplace, there are still over 700,000 vacancies in the UK job market and at last count New Job Today was listing over 85,000 vacancies.  If you’re in the market for a new job, remember you can set up alerts so you can be amongst first to know about vacancies in your chosen area.