UK jobs market showing mixed signals as geopolitical tensions weigh on hiring decisions. Permanent staff appointments declined at their fastest pace since January, driven by uncertainty surrounding the Iran conflict and rising business costs. However, temporary hiring posted its first increase in three months, suggesting employers are shifting toward flexible staffing arrangements to manage expansion without long-term commitments. Overall worker demand contracted for the thirtieth consecutive month, though the decline was the mildest in nearly a year. Candidate availability surged as redundancies and subdued hiring swelled the jobseeker pool. Pay pressures remained weak, with starting salary growth staying well below historical averages. Regional disparities emerged, with permanent placements falling sharply in the Midlands and southern England while improving in London and the North.
