Published Mon, Aug 3, 2026 \u00b7 11:30 AM<\/p>\n
[LONDON] British hiring fell in the first six months of 2026 with job postings for graduates at their lowest since 2020, according to a survey from recruitment platform Indeed published on Monday (Aug 3) that also showed demand for AI skills hit a record high.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe UK\u2019s labour market is under sustained pressure. Hiring demand is falling across most parts of the economy, while posted wage growth is gradually cooling,\u201d Indeed senior economist Jack Kennedy said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is particularly challenging for graduates and younger workers, who are competing for fewer opportunities to gain an initial foothold.\u201d<\/p>\n
Job postings fell by 11 per cent between the start of 2026 and Jul 17 and were 32 per cent lower than before the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
Advertised wage growth cooled to 3.9 per cent annually in the three months to June, the slowest since February 2022.<\/p>\n
Graduate job postings were down 7 per cent year-on-year as of Jul 10 and were at their lowest level for the time of the year since 2020.<\/p>\n
Summer job postings, which cover temporary and seasonal roles, were the weakest in four years.<\/p>\n
At the end of June, AI or related tools and programmes appeared in 9.4 per cent of UK job postings, a record high.<\/p>\n