Britain’s fiscal policies in late 2024 reshaped regional labour markets, with sectors like real estate, property, and digital expanding, while IT and engineering saw declines. Regional disparities widened, with London thriving, while areas like the North West faced hiring challenges, particularly in the financial sector.
Employment law hiring saw sharp contrasts in 2024, with leading firms significantly expanding recruitment to meet rising demand, while others scaled back amid declining legal aid and fewer trade union disputes.
Since Brexit, around 10% of UK banking assets and 40,000 jobs have shifted to EU hubs like Paris, Dublin, and Warsaw, as the EU excluded financial services from the trade deal to maximise economic pressure.
Following the April 2nd “Liberation Day” announcement, financial markets plunged as the S&P 500, NASDAQ, and Brent crude dropped over 10%, while gold prices soared to record highs amid rising volatility and a weakening U.S. dollar.
Between 2023 and 2024, professional vacancies in the Midlands fell 9.0%, outpacing the national decline of 1.5%, with the West Midlands seeing the sharpest drop. Economic pressures, including retail closures and a slowdown in investment, have driven this regional contraction.
