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.
AI is the buzzword everywhere, and while more people are becoming familiar with how it can support them, questions remain about its long-term impact on jobs and industry.
Regional disparities in recruitment highlight increasing economic imbalances across the UK. In 2024, London was the only region to see YoY growth, boosting its share of total vacancies from 34.4% to 36.8%.
Since Bretton Woods in 1944, Western economic policy has favored reducing trade barriers for growth. The world’s largest economy imposing broad tariffs marks a major shift with deep global market implications.
