Midlands Job Market Q1 of 2025: Resilience Amid Uncertainty

The latest KPMG and REC UK Report on Jobs reveals a mixed but resilient picture for the Midlands labour market as of March 2025. While the UK job market overall continues to face pressure, the Midlands region has demonstrated relative stability when compared to other areas of the country.

Key highlights from the report include:

• 📉 Permanent staff placements in the Midlands fell for the tenth consecutive month, though the decline reported in The Midlands was softer than in the North and South of England.

• 📊 Temporary billings also dipped, marking the strongest fall in a year with anecdotal evidence suggesting that tighter hiring budgets had contributed to

  lower billings. The Midlands experienced the mildest drop among English regions.

• 📈 Candidate availability for both permanent and temporary roles continued to rise, largely driven by redundancies, and a decrease in the number of vacancies. This increase gives regional employers a timely opportunity to access a broader talent pool.

• 💷 On the brighter side, starting salaries for permanent positions climbed at a solid rate, outpacing the UK average, as businesses compete for skilled candidates.

• 🛠️ Skills shortages persist, with demand particularly high within the Engineering, Software development, and Finance sectors.

The Midlands' resilience offers a silver lining in a challenging economic climate, providing both employers and job seekers with opportunities amid wider market uncertainty. We’re continuing to work hard to move forward and offset the challenges we anticipated for the recruitment industry this year.

IAP Recruitment:

Our team is here to help you. Contact us on 01283 381737 or email our Recruitment Director, Patrick, at patrick@iaprecruitment.com.