Who's Hiring in the UK Right Now? The Sectors Still Recruiting in October 2026
The UK job market is not one market. Overall vacancies are at their lowest level outside the pandemic since 2014 (ONS), but that headline hides sectors where employers are still struggling to find people. If you are deciding where to point your applications, the sector you target matters as much as the CV you send.
Last updated: 9 October 2026. This page is updated monthly.
Which sectors are hiring the most right now?
The most up-to-date picture comes from the KPMG and REC Report on Jobs, which surveys around 400 UK recruitment agencies. In September 2026, demand for permanent staff rose in half of the ten sectors it tracks (KPMG and REC).
- IT and computing led demand for permanent staff, and was one of only three sectors where demand for temporary staff grew.
- Engineering was the other standout for permanent hiring.
- Nursing, medical and care saw growing demand for temporary staff.
- Blue-collar work, which covers warehouse, manufacturing and manual roles, also saw temporary demand grow.
Employers are also short of specific skills. ManpowerGroup's 2026 survey found 73% of UK employers struggle to find skilled talent, with AI skills the hardest to find (ManpowerGroup).
Which sectors are cutting back?
- Retail and hotel and catering saw the steepest falls in vacancies in September (KPMG and REC).
- Construction firms cut jobs at the fastest rate in five months (S&P Global UK Construction PMI, 6 October 2026).
- Education saw the largest fall in vacancies of any sector, down 5,000 (9.7%) on the quarter to June to August 2026 (ONS).
- Small businesses are hiring least. Vacancies at firms with 1 to 9 employees fell 7.5% on the quarter to 91,000, and 23.5% on the year (ONS).
Vacancies fell in 10 of the 18 industry sectors the ONS tracks over the latest quarter.
Where is the competition for jobs lowest?
Demand is only half of the picture. The other half is how many people apply. One recruiter's data on 1,141 UK adverts, each tracked for 28 days, found the median advert received 31 applications, but some types of role received far fewer (TalentFinder, October 2026):
| Sector | Median applications per advert | Adverts with fewer than five applications |
|---|---|---|
| Legal | 11 | 35.3% |
| Engineering | 15 | 21.1% |
| Construction and property | 18.5 | 18.6% |
| Building services and trades | 19 | 20.0% |
| Care | 35 | 12.5% |
| Accountancy and finance | 42.5 | 15.0% |
| Transport and logistics | 43.5 | 5.2% |
This is data from one recruitment firm's adverts rather than the whole market, so treat it as a signal, not a census. But the pattern is consistent: roles that need a specific qualification or trade attract fewer applicants, even in sectors that are not growing. We explore this further in the UK jobs where hardly anyone is applying.
Are there regional differences?
Yes. Permanent placements rose in three of the four English regions in September, led by the North of England, while the South of England was the only region to see a fall. Temporary billings rose markedly in the North and Midlands but fell sharply in London, ending four months of growth (KPMG and REC).
Where you live still shapes your options. We look at the gaps in entry-level opportunities across the country in does where you live decide your job prospects?
Who is hiring for Christmas?
Seasonal hiring is one of the few areas adding large numbers of roles this autumn. Royal Mail is recruiting around 22,000 temporary workers, Sainsbury's and Argos 17,500, M&S 11,000, John Lewis Partnership more than 10,400 and Boots around 6,000. We list pay, dates and how to apply in Christmas jobs 2026.
How should you use this in your job search?
- Follow demand, not headlines. If your experience overlaps with IT, engineering, care or skilled trades, lead with it. Our guide to highlighting transferable skills shows how to reframe experience for a new sector.
- Look at adjacent roles. A support, operations or administrative role inside a growing sector can be an easier way in than a like-for-like role in a shrinking one.
- Tailor every application. Growing sectors still have more applicants than they had a year ago. Our guide to tailoring your CV explains how far to go.
For the overall numbers, see our monthly look at the UK job market.
Vibe Score matches you to roles on salary, pace, flex and culture, so the openings worth your time surface first. Build your search at mypathfinder.uk
This page is updated monthly as new data is released. Last updated: 9 October 2026.