Recruiters have reported a marked increase in vacancies for construction jobs across the UK, indicating a tentative rebound in activity in a sector that has recently endured sluggish growth.
According to the latest figures from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and data firm Lightcast, the number of advertised positions surpassed 1.5 million in February—slightly above January’s total, despite newly posted opportunities falling 10 per cent month on month.
In addition to construction roles, demand has surged for gardeners, teachers and maintenance workers, reflecting pockets of renewed hiring confidence in areas once perceived as vulnerable to cost pressures and economic uncertainty.
On the other hand, job openings for veterinary nurses, delivery drivers, and train and tram drivers declined over the same period. The REC suggested that, following a flurry of demand in logistics and transport over the past couple of years, hiring in these roles is temporarily cooling as employers seek to rebalance their workforce needs.
Neil Carberry, chief executive of the REC, said: “Firms have been working hard to find growth in the face of rising costs since the budget, and it is reassuring that some are now feeling more ready to hire.”
The construction sector, in particular, has faced months of subdued activity amid a gloomy outlook for housing and commercial projects. However, industry players have gained hope from government pledges to boost housing starts, combined with lower interest rates and a sustained rebound in property prices—factors that are prompting employers to build capacity for anticipated future projects.
Carberry also pointed to a “substantial rise” in adverts within the hospitality industry, another area that has struggled of late due to higher energy costs, staff shortages and subdued consumer confidence.
In contrast, IT hiring remains patchy, although Carberry emphasised that “there are still opportunities” for tech professionals, with nearly 30,000 job postings seeking programmers and software developers, and close to 12,000 for IT business analysts, architects and systems designers.
While the Bank of England’s monetary policy and broader global economic shifts continue to cast a shadow of uncertainty on the UK job market, the latest findings suggest that the construction and hospitality sectors may be among those leading the push towards a more stable recruitment landscape this year.