Job vacancies available across the UK dropped again, official data revealed, posing a further risk for Britons out of work. 

The Office for National Statistics said the number of job vacancies fell by 19,000 between March and May. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.9 per cent per cent compared to five per cent in data from last month, lower than markets predicted. 

Fresh jobs figures reflect growing challenges around the UK economy, with firms complaining about higher labour costs due to intense wage pressures and a heavy tax burden. 

The ONS revealed that wage growth was 3.4 per cent when bonuses were excluded, which was higher than expected. Including bonuses, wage growth was higher than predicted at 4.4 per cent. 

“Payroll numbers continued to fall over this period, with new recruits at their lowest level in five years,” Liz McKeown, director of economic statistics at the ONS, said.

“Overall employment was little changed, with some signs of workers moving into self-employment.”

Job pressures to influence Bank decision

The key labour market data release uncovers the pressures faced by both employers and job seekers, with inflation worries due to the Iran war’s energy price shock also set to hamper Brits. 

On Tuesday, the ONS said inflation remained flat at 2.8 per cent, well below the Bank’s 3.3 per cent prediction a month ago. 

Core inflation, which strips out volatile energy and food costs, was 2.6 per cent, while services inflation — closely watched by Bank of England rate-setters for signs of wage pressure — jumped from 3.2 per cent to 3.7 per cent.

Andrew Griffith, the shadow business secretary, has warned that rising business costs of as much as nine per cent threaten to bring either higher prices to the high street, more firms closing with the loss of jobs, or both.

The future of the UK economy largely depends on whether the Strait of Hormuz fully re-opens following the peace deal between the US and Iran.

The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee meanwhile faces a tricky balancing act between monitoring a weakened labour market and elevated inflation expectations, which could push up inflation far above its two per cent target. 

Some economists have suggested that the Bank will opt to leave monetary policy unchanged for the rest of the year before cutting interest rates next year as weakened demand could stop prices from spiralling in 2026.