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Windows Is A Well Paid Job
There’s good news for existing window installers and fabricators – and good news for those thinking of joining the sector…with pay rates...
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Jobpocalypse Now – No Jobs & No Workers
According to the latest ONS data, employers are increasingly averse to creating jobs, although it is still proving difficult to fill the positions that are available as lots of people don’t want to work.
Responding to the latest Office for National Statistics labour market data, Alex Hall-Chen, the principal policy advisor for employment at the Institute of Directors, said: “Today’s data reflects a softening labour market, with payrolled employees decreasing on the month by 0.1% (0.6% on the year) and vacancies down by 63,000 on the quarter.
“This continued slump in the demand for labour is the predictable result of a series of policy blows to the case for hiring staff. The cumulative impact of the increase in Employer National Insurance Contributions, the Employment Rights Bill and above-inflation increases to the National Living Wage has been to significantly increase the costs and risks associated with employing staff.
“With IoD research showing that more business leaders plan to reduce their employee headcount over the next year than increase it, this situation is unlikely to improve any time soon.
Need to address employer concerns
Hall-Chen added: “A significant rethink is needed if the government is to meet its aims of driving economic growth and increasing the employment rate. The government’s commitment to consult on the detail of secondary legislation associated with the Employment Rights Bill is welcome, yet will have no effect on hiring unless it is genuinely used to listen to and address the concerns of employers.”
Who wants to work?
The UK employment rate for people aged 16 to 64 years was estimated at 75.2% in March to May 2025. The UK unemployment rate for people aged 16 years and over was estimated at 4.7% in March to May 2025.
The UK economic inactivity rate for people aged 16 to 64 years was estimated at 21.0% in March to May 2025.
The UK Claimant Count for June 2025 increased on the month and the year, to 1.743 million.
Vacancies down and job exits
The estimated number of vacancies in the UK fell by 56,000 on the quarter, to 727,000, in April to June 2025. This is the 36th consecutive period where vacancy numbers have dropped compared with the previous three months, with vacancies decreasing in 14 of the 18 industry sectors. Feedback from the ONS Vacancy Survey suggests many firms are not be recruiting new workers or replacing workers who have left.
Wage increases
In March to May 2025, annual growth in employees' average earnings in Great Britain for both regular earnings (excluding bonuses) and total earnings (including bonuses) was 5.0%. Annual average regular earnings growth was 5.5% for the public sector and 4.9% for the private sector.
Wage losses
Annual growth in real terms, adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH), was 1.1% for regular pay and 1.0% for total pay in March to May 2025.
Strikes
There were an estimated 37,000 working days lost because of labour disputes across the UK in May 2025.
Picture: Job vacancies are down and so are job applications.
Article written by Cathryn Ellis
30th July 2025