Businesses are continuing to operate in an exceptionally tight labour market while navigating the ongoing cost of doing business crisis, further impacted by the National Insurance changes implemented this year. This competitive environment is putting pressure on organisations’ ability to invest, expand, and retain talent.
According to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) labour market overview, the estimated number of payrolled employees in the UK for August 2025 is 30.6 million, an increase from August 2024. The unemployment rate as of September 2025 stands at 4.1%, showing a slight decline compared to the previous three months. However, despite the drop in unemployment, the estimated number of job vacancies has fallen for the 27th consecutive period, down to 842,000 which highlights the ongoing challenge in filling roles across various sectors.
Many local businesses are still facing difficulties in recruiting suitable talent, which is critical for maintaining operations and supporting future growth. Closing the local and regional skills gap continues to be one of the Chamber’s key priorities as we support businesses into 2026 and beyond.
To support this effort, the Chamber of Commerce is once again partnering with Hewett Recruitment to produce the annual Salary & Benefits Report 2026. This essential report benchmarks salaries and employee benefits across both counties, helping employers stay competitive in attracting and retaining talent.
The report will provide detailed insights into minimum, maximum, and average salaries for a wide range of roles. In today’s landscape, where benefits like flexible working and enhanced leave are just as important to candidates as pay, having access to accurate market data has never been more important.
Have your say and let us know what salaries and benefits you offer by completing the Salary & Benefits survey today: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CQFF7WQ
Survey closes: Friday 7th November 2025
The Salary & Benefits 2026 Report will launch at our HR Forum in January 2026