UK jobs market slowdown sees pay growth ease as candidate supply rises
Permanent placements and temp billings fell in July as the latest KPMG and REC survey reported the slowest starting salary growth in almost four-and-a-half years.
Latest
CAA staff strike for first time in 40 years in dispute over pay
Industrial action will start on 20th January and consist of working to rule and an overtime ban.
Met Police staff take industrial action over hybrid working policy
MPS management announced at the end of 2023 that it would replace the Blended Working policy with a Hybrid Working policy.
Elon Musk launches DOGE recruitment drive, calls for ‘highly committed individuals’
DOGE is recruiting for a number of positions, despite stating that they were only looking for individuals willing to work extensive hours.
JPMorgan calls staff back to the office five days a week
The decision is consistent with CEO Jamie Dimon’s stance that in-person work fosters greater collaboration and productivity.
ChatGPT boss says AI agents will join workforce in 2025
AI agents could significantly enhance productivity by performing tasks autonomously.
Government must put staff challenges at forefront of NHS change, experts warn
Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, said: “NHS workers are on their knees struggling to cope with current demands, which are at an all-time high."
Compensation & Benefits
Octopus EV adds XPENG G6 to salary sacrifice scheme
The salary sacrifice scheme includes the car, home charger, energy bundle, maintenance and insurance.
Most employees unaware of added-value benefits, research reveals
Data from from Towergate Employee Benefits found only 47% of employers said their managers understood these benefits well, and just 41% believed their employees did.
Recruitment & HR
Neurodiversity-related employment tribunal claims see sharp rise since 2020
Analysis from Irwin Mitchell revealed that the number of tribunal decisions citing ADHD rose from just six in the first half of 2020 to 51 in the first half of 2025.
Virgin Media O2 and Care UK among shortlist for In-house Recruitment Awards
The winners will be revealed on 26th November in London at Westminster Bridge.
Staffing market shows signs of recovery as hiring lifts in July
New APSCo data reveals month-on-month growth in vacancies, CV sends and placements across both contract and permanent roles.
Manufacturers and B2C firms most likely to return to full onsite working – BCC
Just under half (48%) of businesses said they expected all working days to be in-person over the next 12 months.
Inclusivity, Equality & Diversity
Finance and property firms dominate 2025 UK Social Mobility Awards shortlist
Lloyds, Knight Frank, and Coventry Building Society are among the financial and property firms shortlisted for this year’s UK Social Mobility Awards.
Good Things Foundation and People’s Partnership join forces to boost digital and financial skills
Nicola Sinclair said: “We passionately believe that everyone deserves access to tools and knowledge to enable them to plan for their future.”
92% of Muslim women in UK media say Islamophobia is embedded in newsrooms
According to the report by the Centre for Media Monitoring, 72% of respondents said they had personally experienced direct discrimination linked to their Muslim identity.
Škoda Auto deepens diversity commitment as DEI score hits 94%
In June, Škoda Auto was recognised with the Pride Business Forum’s Award in Bronze category for LGBTQ+ Friendly Employer.
Technology
West Midlands Mayor sets out ambitions to boost AI skills and job prospects
The scheme aims to help local people use AI in daily life and work, as well as prepare thousands for jobs in technology.
UK adults turn to AI to save time and money in everyday life
A new survey by Adobe Express shows 40% of people now use AI at home and work, saving up to 10 hours a week and cutting costs in the process.
Lack of human skills risks holding back AI adoption in the workplace, finds Multiverse
Imogen Stanley said: “We need to start looking beyond technical skills and think about the human skills that the workforce must hone to get the best out of AI."
Health & Wellbeing
Vitality’s Champion Programme boosts workforce activity and productivity
An extra 750 employees signed up as champions, bringing the total to 2,139 across more than 1,200 companies.
University of Bedfordshire awarded Mental Health Charter for wellbeing commitment
Rebecca Bunting said: “This award reflects the commitment of our entire community to creating a supportive, inclusive environment for all."
Half of workers miss out on essential HSE training – Astutis
The survey showed just 28% are currently using AI tools in their work, with over 80% not using wearable technology such as smart PPE or monitoring devices.
Government to introduce new professional licensing rules for high-risk cosmetic procedures
Under the proposed rules, certain invasive treatments will only be permitted when performed by specially trained medical practitioners operating within Care Quality Commission (CQC)-registered providers.
Employee Relations
Scrapping age bands for minimum wage will mean major change for employers, says expert
Claire Cole said: “While many employers already pay above the minimum, this increase, alongside the move to a single adult rate, will have a real impact on payroll.”
Thousands in Greater Manchester to get free support through ‘Work Progression’ service
The service aims to help people move into better jobs, boost their skills and confidence, and break down barriers to getting ahead at work.
40% of doctors struggle to provide patient care due to staffing shortages – GMC
Inadequate staffing was the main barrier, with 72% saying it was a problem, down from 79% in 2023.
24% of marketers say work stress affects their personal lives – Storyblok
Only a third (33.5%) said they had a good work-life balance and just 6% said they were never stressed.
Global HR
Talent shortages driving company location decisions, survey finds
Savills and CoreNet Global found that 73% of respondents in the technology sector reported a drop in skilled staff.
HSI acquires HandsHQ to expand risk management and workforce training
Jamie Carruthers said: “The combined expertise of HSI and HandsHQ means our customers will have access to the best-in-class technology and industry-leading practices."
Pearson and HCLTech partner to deliver AI-driven upskilling for global workforce
The deal will see Pearson use HCLTech’s engineering and digital tools to create new AI-powered training, assessment and workforce analytics products.
Firms failing to use global mobility strategically, warns Vialto
Only 23% of firms said their mobility function was either 'strategic' or an 'influencer' in business matters.