Sliding into Stagnation The UK's Labour Market Hits a Soft Spot The latest employment figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) paint a bleak picture of the labour market.
Unemployment has risen to 5% over the past three months, a sharp reversal of expectations that it would remain steady at 4. 9%.
Vacancies have slumped to their lowest level in five years, with a staggering 28,000 fewer openings between January and April. The retail and hospitality sectors are among those most severely affected.