The UK's summer job market has experienced a resurgence this year, particularly in the hospitality and tourism sectors. New figures indicate a significant increase in seasonal hiring compared to summer 2025, attributed to exceptionally warm weather and a calendar packed with sporting, music, and cultural events, including the men's football World Cup.
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), which tracks the labour market monthly, noted a double-digit rise in job advertisements within hospitality and tourism over the summer. This marks a turnaround from concerns last year regarding a dip in summer job postings.
Despite this overall positive trend, there was a slight decrease in both active and new job postings in July compared to June. Maxine Bligh, the REC’s chief membership and innovation officer, acknowledged that while opportunities are growing, entry-level jobs for young people are not yet fully recovered. However, she highlighted more opportunities in hospitality, tourism, and construction than last year, with the prospect of an Indian summer potentially extending these roles.
In July, the UK recorded just under 1.67 million active job postings, representing a 7.7% increase from the previous year, but a 2.6% decline from June's figures.