Labour market ‘grinding to a halt,’ study suggests

Activism / 10 November 2026 Walkouts planned at more than 200 schools, colleges and universities on November 20 for youth strike 10 November 2026 Industrial / 10 November 2026 Health visitors claim victory after long-running strike wins pay rises 10 November 2026 Justice System / 10 November 2026 Labour deputy leader criticises Brand’s defence inquisition of victims 10 November 2026 Britain / 10 November 2026 Former Reform UK candidate behind Oxford ‘race science’ event exposed over antisemitic writings 10 November 2026 Britain / 10 November 2026 Commission set up in Wales to look at independence 10 November 2026 Wales / 10 November 2026 Culture war breaks out in Senedd as Reform accused of ‘being a one-trick pony’ 10 November 2026 MORE workers have not moved jobs in recent years, suggesting the labour market is “grinding to a halt,” according to new research today.

Jobs site CV-Library said the jobs market appeared to be stuck amid a fall in new vacancies.

The rate of people moving directly between jobs has fallen by 28 per cent compared with 2022, according to the site’s analysis.

CV-Library said its research also found that just 37 per cent of jobseekers are optimistic about job opportunities.

The site warned that economic stagnation and weak business confidence were creating a “vicious cycle” of fewer new opportunities so that employees were less willing to change jobs.

Lee Biggins, chief executive of CV-Library, said: “Britain’s workforce isn’t necessarily staying put because it’s happy. It’s staying put because there are fewer places to go.

“We’ve become accustomed to measuring the health of the jobs market by the number of new vacancies being created, but that’s only half the story.

“A thriving economy also depends on people moving between existing jobs, creating opportunities for others to progress, change careers or enter the workforce.

“Right now, weak business confidence is suppressing both.”

Economy / 19 October 2026 Reforming existing childcare schemes could boost incomes, research suggests 19 October 2026 Economy / 15 September 2026 Vacancies drop to fresh five-year low as small firms remain under pressure 15 September 2026 Employment / 24 August 2026 Rise in travel, teaching and construction jobs while overall vacancies fall 24 August 2026 Economy / 21 March 2026 Who's to blame for youth unemployment? 21 March 2026 PHILIP ENGLISH says military spending will not create the jobs young people need — instead, build an economy based around needs, not profit