Vacancysoft & APSCo Midlands Regional Labour Market Trends | November 2025

This report provides an overview of professional hiring trends across the Midlands in 2025, covering developments in both the West and East of the region. The analysis draws on vacancy data from across sectors and professions, offering insight into where demand is rising and where it continues to soften.

While the overall pace of hiring has been steady, there are important differences between the two sub-regions. The West Midlands has held firm in terms of vacancy volumes, while the East Midlands has shown stronger yearon-year growth, particularly in industrial and consumer-facing sectors.

Engineering, sales and procurement roles have seen some of the most notable gains. By contrast, activity in real estate, HR and some support functions has declined. Sector performance has been similarly mixed, with retail and consumer goods showing renewed strength, and technology and insurance experiencing moderate contraction.

The data also highlights the contrasting strategies of employers operating in the region. Some companies have expanded hiring significantly, while others have scaled back or maintained stable levels.