Economics, government & business

Employers are feeling more optimistic about the future than at any time in over two years, according to a new survey of businesses.

The year to 31 March 2025 saw lower levels of new entrants to the civil service overall compared with the year before.

Hiring intentions for the next year climbed to the highest level since 2015, according to Lloyds Bank’s Business Barometer.

One in four young people considering emigrating from the UK, according to poll that found that only a third have never considered it.

Nearly 50,000 businesses were in critical financial distress in the spring, an increase of 21.4% compared with the previous year.

UK vacancies rose to 875,546 in June – the strongest annual growth since July 2022.

About 100 branches face closure although chief executive has said there was not a ‘definitive’ view on how many branches were needed.

The cutting of 180 occupations from the Skilled Worker visa and the decision to close the Health and Care worker route to overseas workers has come under fire from the House of Lords.

There has been a decline in skills shortage vacancies according to new figures from the Department for Education.

The head of England's NHS has said the organisation must be more resistant to resident doctors' pay demands, and that strikers should face ‘financial consequences’.

A ‘small burst of hiring’ meant that new UK job postings went up by just over 6% in June, according to the REC.

Four in five employees received a smaller pay award in 2025 than in the previous year, as employers increasingly show restraint.

Pub chain BrewDog will close 10 bars, blaming ‘extremely difficult’ economic conditions for hospitality.

Home Office agreement made with food couriers Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats to crack down on illegal working.

Ministers who leave office following a serious breach of conduct rules will be stopped from getting pay-outs from October this year.