Reporting Period: This report covers data from May 2026 and is published as the June 2026 Recruitment Trends Snapshot.
May 2026 presented a contrasting picture across the recruitment market. Hiring demand increased slightly, with both job postings and placements up by 2%, suggesting employers are still actively recruiting despite wider market uncertainty.
However, applications fell by 13%, compared to April 2026, resulting in fewer candidates per vacancy and reducing the average applications per job from 17 to 15. This widening gap between hiring demand and candidate engagement may create additional challenges for recruiters operating in already candidate-short sectors.
Overall market sentiment remains in a cooling phase despite some positive movement in hiring activity.
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Monthly Stats (vs April 2026)
- Jobs Posted: +2%
- Applications: -13%
- Average Applications per Job: 15 (-2)
- Placements: +2%
Demand vs Candidate Availability
The top industries by jobs posted were:
- Education (31%)
- Health & Nursing (25%)
- Construction (10%)
- Manufacturing (6%)
- IT & Internet (6%)
The industries with the highest average applications per job were:
- Retail & Wholesale (53)
- Human Resources (33)
- Secretarial, PAs & Admin (32)
- Accountancy (28)
- Manufacturing (26)
Key Takeaways
Key insights from April’s recruitment data highlight where demand is rising and where candidate shortages remain most acute.
- Job postings increased by 2%, showing continued hiring demand.
- Applications fell by 13%, reducing candidate availability.
- Average applications per job declined from 17 to 15.
- Placements rose by 2%, suggesting recruitment activity remains active.
- Education and Health & Nursing continue to account for the largest share of vacancies.
- Retail & Wholesale remains the most candidate-rich sector, averaging 53 applications per job.
