Marvin OnumonuCV-Library released its latest job market report, showing early signs of recovery at the end of 2025.
Despite rising unemployment and fewer payrolled jobs, total vacancies in the last quarter of 2025 were higher than the same period in 2024, and similar to 2023.
It marked the first time in six quarters that job vacancies had gone up year-on-year.
A survey carried out by CV-Library in December 2025 found that 87% of employers had paused hiring before the Autumn Budget.
Longer-term plans looked more positive, with 71% of businesses ready to increase hiring in 2026.
Engineering, hospitality and construction led the way for new jobs.
Engineering had the most open roles, with 377,264 jobs advertised in the last quarter of 2025.
Hospitality (catering) followed with 301,501 vacancies.
Salary transparency stayed low in the private sector, with only 48% of adverts including pay information.
CV-Library’s data showed that jobs with a listed salary attracted 60% more applications.
In the public sector, 65% of roles included salary details.
Recruiters in the private sector appeared less likely to share pay information due to higher numbers of applications.
Analysis also showed that millennials were leaving payrolled employment in larger numbers.
The 25-34 age group made up 76% of the drop in payrolled jobs over the past year.
Meanwhile, employment for people aged 35-49 and those over 65 saw small increases.
Lee Biggins, founder and CEO of CV-Library, said: “After years of depressing job market data there are early, cautious signs of a recovery.
“It’s not time to break out the economic champagne just yet though, higher business rates, employment costs, and an employment rights bill that brings greater risk to hiring may yet derail any recovery.
“And it’s a worry that Millennials in their prime early-career phase are being hit hardest when it comes to the reduction in payrolled employees.”
Biggins added: “But, there are sectors like engineering and construction that are showing encouraging signs, and we’ll have to wait and see whether this continues into 2026.”
