The Recruitment & Employment Confederation is the voice of the recruitment industry. We're making great work happen. #YourREC #RecruitmentForRecovery
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REC’s Shazia Ejaz says: “The verdict from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is in, and it is clear they think NIC increases and the Employment Rights Act (ERA) changes are bad for jobs and bad for the economy.”
More: rec.uk.com/our-view/news/pre…
ALT Shazia Ejaz
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Chancellor confirms that the Timms and Milburn reviews on getting disabled and young people into work will be published next month. #Budget2026
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One hundred percent of business rate revenues will stay in the region within a decade. #Budget2026
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Chancellor says skilled worker visas and non compete contracts to be reformed. #Budget2026
Paternity leave: Self-employed fathers and partners will be eligible for paid parental leave. #Budget2026
Chancellor says he has "heard calls" for pay transparency on job adverts to close the gender pay gap. Govt consultation on equal pay has just closed. #Budget2026 #GenderPayGap
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On today’s @ONS data, REC’s Maxine Bligh said: “Today’s figures take some of the shine off recent labour market momentum. Employment is up, unemployment is down and wage growth has picked up, all signs that the jobs market remains stable. But the biggest fall in vacancies since the start of the year is a bitter blow for jobseekers this morning and shows that employers remain cautious.”
rec.uk.com/our-view/news/pre…
Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech at Labour Conference 2026 today, REC's Maxine Bligh said agencies are key to making the new National Care Service a success, but ‘we must learn from the mistakes of NHS staffing policy which prioritises politics over pragmatism’.
rec.uk.com/our-view/news/pre…
ALT Maxine Bligh
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Responding to today’s @ONS data, REC’s Maxine Bligh said that ‘jobseekers have been watching the same job market movie for a while now’, which is why businesses will back the government going bold with the Budget next month to rebuild employer confidence by supporting growth, boosting hiring and strengthening labour market participation.
More: rec.uk.com/our-view/news/pre…
ALT Maxine Bligh on BBC News TV this morning (Tues).
An interesting data release form @EU_Eurostat today shows:
· In 2025, the average hourly labour cost was €34.9 in the EU, ranging from €12.0 in Bulgaria to €56.8 in Luxembourg.
· In 2022, the median gross hourly earnings were €14.9 in the EU, from €4.1 in Bulgaria to €29.8 in Denmark.
· In 2025, the net annual earnings of an average single worker without children were €29 954 in the EU, ranging from €13 877 in Romania to €55 877 in Luxembourg.
· In 2025, the net annual earnings of an average working couple with two children were €64 613 in the EU, ranging from €29 192 in Romania to €121 401 in Luxembourg.
The data is explained on the Eurostat website: ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/ma…
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Our @RECNeil warns the costs and complexity of the 'government knows best' guaranteed hours plan will hold back hiring, reduce opportunities and weaken growth at a critical time for the UK economy. rec.uk.com/our-view/news/pre…
ALT Neil Carberry
Responding to today’s @ONS key labour market data for BBC News TV, REC’s Maxine Bligh said: “It is a steady picture but a lot more needs to be done to fuel hiring. Labour costs are high and operating costs for business are still really high and behind some of that caution that we are seeing in the labour market. Business have underlying intent to hire that needs to be unlocked.”
ALT Maxine Bligh on the left.
REC press statement on today's important ONS data: rec.uk.com/our-view/news/pre…
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REC response to Prime Minister’s comments on recruitment: ‘Go digital where it matters and human where it counts’:
REC's Maxine Bligh said: "The challenge is using AI to make better hiring decisions while giving recruiters more time to do the one thing technology cannot replace, which is building relationships with people. In the end, people hire people, and sustainable recruitment is built on trust, expertise and long-term thinking, not just algorithms."
rec.uk.com/our-view/news/pre…
I've waited a long time to see a politician as senior as @andyburnham talk about the labour market and workforce as more than skills provision/need. @RECmembers across the country will agree with the principal point the Prime Minister is making here... (1/)
On this afternoon’s announcements by @DWPgovuk, the REC’s Shazia Ejaz said: “National Insurance (NICs) relief for apprentices under 25 reduces the cost of hiring young workers. That will make a difference, but it is not a game changer. To make a real difference on lowering employer costs the NICs relief should be extended to all workers under 25 and reversing the lowering of the threshold for NICs contributions would give the jobs market a significant boost and encourage employers to recruit and invest in young talent.” rec.uk.com/our-view/news/pre…
Responding to reforms outlined this morning by the new Prime Minister, REC’s Shazia Ejaz said: “If this approach is to succeed, employers will want to see long-term consistency on apprenticeships and technical education, backed by strong engagement with businesses.” rec.uk.com/our-view/news/pre…
ALT Shazia Ejaz
The Times: Andy Burnham: We’ll value the hard hat as much as the graduation cap: thetimes.com/uk/politics/art…
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As REC’s Lorraine Laryea told @thetimes journalist @richardtyler about the new Fair Work Agency: “It can be easy to find areas where there are unintentional errors or minor infringements, but it is really important to find those rogue operators who may not be so plainly in sight.”
thetimes.com/business/entrep…
Responding to today @ONS data, @RECNeil said: “The new Prime Minister inherits a labour market showing tentative signs of improvement. Firms can help clear the obstacles facing Andy Burnham if his new government replaces misguided paternalism with pragmatism and partnership.”
rec.uk.com/our-view/news/pre…
As @RECNeil told BBC News TV today, recruiters are seeing employers cautiously put a toe back in the water, favouring temporary and contract positions as they gauge confidence before making long-term hiring commitments.
