Tamar Bridge News is your trusted guide through the currents of UK news, committed to bridging the gap between information and insight with clarity, precision, and a human-centric approach.
The UK jobs market is becoming more competitive, but the bigger change in 2026 is happening inside recruitment itself: employers are becoming more selective about the skills candidates bring. Official figures show that UK vacancies fell to 707,000 in May to July 2026, down 19,000 on the same period a year earlier. There were 2.5 unemployed people for every vacancy in April to June. At the same time, recruitment-industry data has shown tentative signs of stabilisation, while employers continue to report shortages in specialist, analytical and digital capabilities. The result is a labour market where having a qualification or a…