Tribepad data reveals sharp contraction in hiring and surge in job applications following November Budget

Vacancies fall to lowest levels in three years as competition for roles intensifies

Sheffield, UK - 9th January 2026 - Tribepad, the talent acquisition platform trusted by some of the UK's largest employers, has released new data showing a sharp slowdown in hiring following the 26 November 2025 Budget, alongside a sustained rise in job applications that has increased competition for available roles.

Drawing on anonymised data from hundreds of British employers and more than 14 million job applications per year on Tribepad's talent acquisition platform, the analysis shows recruitment activity weakening more abruptly than in previous years, suggesting the post-Budget slowdown extends beyond normal end-of-year seasonal patterns.

Vacancies drop off sharply after Budget

While 2025 began with strong hiring momentum, vacancy volumes fell steeply after the Budget. Open roles peaked in October 2025 at 122,241, before dropping to 28,102 in November and 24,281 in December; a significantly sharper post-peak decline than seen in recent years.

By comparison, in 2024 vacancies declined more gradually, falling from 68,232 in September to 35,039 in November and 25,478 in December. Total open roles across 2025 (527,744) also remained below 2024 levels (561,995), pointing to a more restrained hiring environment overall.

Applications surge despite fewer roles

At the same time, the number of people applying for jobs remained strong. In November 2025, employers received 1.25 million applications, up from 1.01 million in November 2024 and 779,311 in November 2023. Despite the sharp reduction in vacancies, total applications increased further in December to 1.32 million, compared with 1.01 million in December 2024 and 748,159 in December 2023.

As a result, employers in December 2025 were handling almost twice as many applications per role as they were two years earlier, significantly increasing competition for available jobs.

Employers respond with cautious recruitment

The data indicates that employers are responding to higher costs primarily through a more cautious approach to recruitment. Since the November Budget, vacancy volumes have fallen sharply, particularly in seasonal and non-essential roles, suggesting that many organisations are delaying or scaling back hiring plans rather than expanding headcount.

"End-of-year hiring always slows, but the data since the November Budget shows a much sharper shift than we would normally expect," said Tribepad CEO Neil Armstrong. "Vacancies have fallen to their lowest levels in recent years, while applications per role have reached record highs. In a UK labour market where more people are competing for fewer jobs, it is increasingly important that hiring decisions remain consistent and fair, particularly as employers manage higher costs per role alongside higher applicant volumes."

Tribepad,
The Innovation Centre,
217 Portobello, Sheffield,
S1 4DP

Claire Curzon,
claire@brighterdirections.co.uk
+44(0)1143122110

Headquartered in Sheffield, Tribepad is a certified B Corp and founding member of the British Hiring Institute's Association of RecTech Providers (ARTP), which engages with government policy to set industry standards for faster, fairer and safer hiring. Tribepad's platform serves 30 million people in 16 languages, empowering organisations like Tesco, Greggs, The NHS and Liverpool FC to streamline their hiring processes and promote fairer, more accessible recruitment. As a people-first company, Tribepad is redefining recruitment technology to drive a more equitable future.

For more information, visit tribepad.com

This release was published on openPR.