Priced out of work: Just one in seven firms is confident about hiring

Priced out of work: Just one in seven firms is confident about hiring

The rising cost of employment is holding back living standards and hitting job opportunities for the young, business leaders have warned.

Rising labour costs threaten job opportunities for young people, survey finds

A poll found rising labour costs and employment regulations were putting pressure on firms’ ability to create job and training opportunities.

CBI and Pertemps Survey Finds UK Hiring Confidence Falls as Employment Costs Squeeze Youth Opportunities

Only 15% of firms are confident about hiring, while labour costs and employment regulation rank as the main threats to labour-market competitiveness. IN BRIEFKEY TAKEAWAYSFAQs The CBI/Pertemps Employment Trends Survey 2026 reports that just 15% of UK businesses are confident … Read the full press release →

Rising employment costs risk holding back living standards and job opportunities for young people - CBI/Pertemps Employment Trends Survey 2026

Young bearing brunt of hiring slump, warns CBI

Just 15% of businesses say they are currently hiring “confidently”, with rising labour costs and red tape putting pressure on the ability of employers to