South – UK Regional Labour Market Trends, September 2025
South of England Labour Market Expands, Led by 8.5% Rise in Vacancies
Key findings include:
- East of England leads with 8.5% growth in marketing roles
- Retail and consumer goods hiring surges nearly 30%
- Engineering and construction jobs drive professional growth
- Balfour Beatty and University of Oxford double vacancies
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South’s Labour Market Gains Momentum
The South of England is proving to be a robust player in the national labour market. The East of England stands out with an 8.5% rise in marketing roles, while the South East remains the largest hiring hub. Marketing activity peaked in March, reflecting strong seasonal demand. While some softening occurred in August, the wider picture shows growing confidence among employers. Quarter-on-quarter figures indicate a sharp rise at the start of the year, followed by a mild correction. Overall, the region contributes nearly a quarter of the UK’s job market, reinforcing its importance as a driver of employment and economic stability.
Sectors in Transition
Real estate and construction retain top billing, holding a 21.4% share of vacancies across the South. Not-for-profits are quietly gaining ground, reflecting increased demand for social impact and community-focused roles. Engineering and industrial roles continue steady growth, while tech remains flat. Retail and consumer goods are the standout, with hiring jumping almost 30%, likely fuelled by hybrid retail strategies and strong e-commerce activity. Meanwhile, banking shows slight decline, and life sciences hold steady. The sectoral picture shows a South in transition, traditional industries remain resilient, while consumer-driven and community-focused sectors gather pace.
Professional Hiring Trends Shift
IT remains the largest profession across the South, holding its dominant share of hiring. Engineering roles are rising fastest, supported by investment in energy, transport and regional infrastructure. Marketing and PR are seeing renewed interest, with a modest but consistent upward trend. Construction professionals are also in demand, reflecting infrastructure investment and housing initiatives. By contrast, real estate roles are contracting, indicating continued cooling in the property market. The overall professional mix reflects a pivot towards future-facing capabilities in engineering, digital, and communications, all critical to the South’s long-term competitiveness.
Employers Steer Regional Growth
Several major employers are shaping the landscape in 2025. Balfour Beatty’s hiring has more than doubled, with infrastructure and construction projects driving headcount. The University of Oxford has seen similarly strong expansion, reflecting renewed momentum in research and education. BAE Systems and RSK Group are both recording double-digit growth, particularly in engineering and environmental services. These gains contrast with modest reductions at AECOM, suggesting rebalancing across infrastructure pipelines. Overall, the South’s leading organisations are not just navigating economic conditions, they are shaping them, investing heavily in talent and future capabilities across core sectors.
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All data featured in this report is available in the Vacancy Analytics platform, which is updated in real-time and allows for interactive analysis, giving you the power to drill into trends to identify the key insights you need to power your business.
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