Is Now a Good Time to Move Jobs? A 2025 Update

In short: yes—but only in certain sectors. We take a look in our latest guide on this topic below:

1. The UK Labour Market Forecast

Unemployment has edged up to 4.6%, the highest since mid?2021, yet vacancies remain relatively high at approximately 736,000—a 17% drop year-on-year, but still close to historic averages (Employment Studies, Youth Employment UK).

Weekly earnings have grown by around 5.2%, with real-term increases of approximately 1.4%, indicating continued but easing wage pressure (CBI).

Despite 35 consecutive quarters of vacancy declines, the market still signals strong demand for candidates with the right skillsets (LinkedIn UK Workforce Report, Employment Studies).

GDP growth for Q1 2025 reached 0.7%, placing the UK ahead of other G7 economies, driven largely by performance in the service and manufacturing sectors (The Guardian).

What this means: A more evenly balanced market—candidates face more competition, but targeted roles in growth sectors remain open and well-remunerated.

2. Sector Spotlight: Where We See Opportunity

Accountancy & Finance
A seasonal rebound is well underway. Financial roles in London rose 12% in Q1 2025, according to hiring insights from Morgan McKinley, Stunited, and the Financial Times.

Public and private sector pay has remained steady at approximately 5.2% (MoneyWeek).

Firms are particularly seeking candidates with financial reporting, BI tools (like Power BI), and automation expertise (Robert Half UK).

HR, Administration & Legal
While entry-level openings have decreased, mid-tier roles remain in demand. The ONS reports that professional services vacancies continue at a rate of ~45,000 per quarter, despite a cooling trend (The Times, The Guardian).

Skills such as HRIS system knowledge, hybrid team management, and compliance awareness are increasingly valued.

Customer Service & Contact Centres
Remote and hybrid CS roles are holding firm. As teams restructure post-pandemic, employers value CSAT performance, multitasking ability, and empathy. The FT and HowToJob.io confirm stability in this sector.

Sales, Purchasing & FMCG
While entry-level roles are down 32% since 2022, demand for mid-senior level sales, purchasing and trading professionals remains strong (The Guardian, FT).

Commercial sales roles frequently exceed £50k, often with significant bonuses attached.

Estate Agency & Property
The East Midlands and commuter towns are showing resilient transactional activity, and UK real estate vacancies are up nearly 45% compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to recent market overviews.

Digital, Creative & Marketing
Demand for digital marketing, AI campaign management, and SEO continues to grow. Michael Page reports that 63% of marketing professionals are seeking higher pay in 2025.

Candidates with data-led creativity, CRM proficiency, and AI capability are at a clear advantage (Robert Half).

Purchasing & Procurement
With inflation reigniting cost concerns, companies are hiring professionals who can deliver supplier resilience and value-for-money procurement strategies—especially in manufacturing, retail, and FMCG.

3. Tailored Advice: How to Approach the Market

If you're in finance or accountancy, this is the time to showcase your automation experience, Power BI knowledge, and financial reporting results. HR, admin, and legal professionals should highlight hybrid working experience and proficiency in HR systems. For customer service roles, demonstrating improvements in CSAT scores or managing complex support environments will give you an edge. In sales, purchasing, and FMCG, bring forward your KPI achievements, negotiation results, and sector-specific insight. Estate agency professionals should focus on local knowledge, CRM skills, and commission track records. Digital and marketing candidates should be ready to share analytics-driven results, campaign data, and fluency in AI marketing tools.

4. Strategy to Succeed in 2025

Update your CV to reflect 2025’s top skill demands—especially hybrid work, systems knowledge, and measurable achievements.
Consult with us for salary benchmarking to ensure your expectations match local market conditions.
Prepare for longer hiring processes, as AI and digital screening can extend timelines.
Leverage your network—many mid-senior roles in our specialist areas are never advertised publicly.
Partner with an agency, working with an agency such as Elizabeth Michael can open doors that aren't available through conventional job boards.

Even as broader hiring activity slows, we are seeing growth in many of the sectors we specialise in as an agency. With 4.6% unemployment, 736,000 vacancies, and real wage growth of over 1%, now is a strategic time to move—if you approach the market with the right tools and insights.

Get in touch with the Elizabeth Michael Associates team today for support in your job search.

Contact us | hello@elizabethmichael.co.uk | 0115 979 9806