Signal 6% of UK businesses report recruitment difficulties in March 2025

Summary

According to the report, 6% of UK businesses said in March 2025 that they were having difficulty recruiting. The figure is offered as an indicator of skills shortages, where employers cannot find candidates with the skills a role needs. Over the same period, vacancies fell to 781,000 and unemployment among those aged 16 and over was 4.4%. The report points out that areas outside London, especially rural and coastal places, struggle to attract and keep highly qualified workers. It suggests, though, that more remote working could lead skilled workers in the South-East to move to areas where housing is cheaper. The report sees a wider spread of workers and businesses across the UK as a way to narrow regional income gaps.