LONDON, June 8 (Reuters) – Britain’s jobs market cooled rapidly in May after employers put the brakes on permanent hiring after the Iran war heightened cost pressures and uncertainty about the economic outlook, an industry survey showed on Monday.
The monthly Report on Jobs from accountants KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, a trade body, showed permanent job placements fell at the fastest pace since July 2025. Placements have fallen for 44 months in a row, the longest period of contraction since the survey began in 1997.
“Ongoing global and domestic uncertainty is making businesses more cautious, and that is increasingly reflected in hiring decisions. While some employers are turning to temporary contracts to retain flexibility, many permanent hiring plans are being delayed or put on hold,” Jon Holt, KPMG’s group chief executive, said.
REC and KPMG also said:
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