Average UK Advertised Salary Surpasses £40,000 for the First Time

Monday, January 27, 2025

Employer hesitancy and demand for talent drive up pay despite shrinking vacancies.

The UK job market hit a historic milestone in December 2024, with the average advertised salary surpassing £40,000 for the first time. According to Adzuna’s latest UK Job Market Report, salaries rose 7.15% year-on-year, climbing from £37,577 in December 2023. This sharp increase highlights the ongoing battle for top-tier talent in a challenging hiring environment.

“Whilst it appears companies are not hiring as much, they are loosening their purse strings,” said Andrew Hunter, co-founder of Adzuna. “The average advertised salary now reaching over £40,000 is a testament to employers’ willingness to invest in securing skilled professionals.”

Vacancies Drop, Competition Heats Up

The hiring landscape continues to pose challenges for jobseekers, as vacancies fell by -4.01% month-on-month to 844,152 in December. Compared to the same time last year, vacancies dropped -9.15%, although this marks the smallest annual decline since November 2023.

With fewer jobs available, competition has intensified. The number of jobseekers per vacancy increased to 2.05 in December, up from 1.96 in November. Certain regions, including Yorkshire and The Humber, Northern Ireland, and the North East, face heightened competition, with over three jobseekers vying for every role. In contrast, South West and South East England maintain relatively low jobseeker-to-vacancy ratios.

Sector Winners and Losers

Demand for skilled professionals varies across sectors. Teaching posted a remarkable annual growth of +25.71%, reaching over 155,000 roles on Adzuna. Legal, Logistics & Warehouse, and Sales also experienced annual increases, while Trade & Construction (+6.63%) and Teaching (+4.32%) showed monthly growth in December.

Conversely, Retail struggled with a dramatic -41.39% annual drop in vacancies, alongside steep declines in PR, Advertising & Marketing (-38.36%), and Energy, Oil & Gas (-36.87%). Retail was hit particularly hard in December, with vacancies plummeting -19.01% month-on-month.

Salaries on the Rise Across Most Sectors

While job availability has tightened, salary growth provides a silver lining. Maintenance roles saw the largest annual pay rise (+19.45%), followed by Logistics & Warehouse (+16.5%) and Retail (+15.72%). On a month-to-month basis, Travel (+5.22%) and Manufacturing (+2.81%) led the way. Only the Admin sector recorded a slight decline in advertised salaries, down -0.1% compared to November.

Legal was the sole sector to experience an annual salary dip, down -3.5%, reflecting a potential shift in hiring trends or reduced pay for newly advertised positions.

Salary Transparency Declines

2024 marked the worst year for salary transparency on record, with more employers hiding pay details in job postings. By December, only 46.29% of listings disclosed salary information, a trend that could impact jobseekers’ decision-making.

What Lies Ahead?

As seasonal hiring slowed during the festive period, Healthcare Support Worker reclaimed its spot as the most in-demand role. Other popular roles included Social Care Worker, Sales Assistant, and Cleaner, highlighting continued demand in essential services.

Hunter added, “Sectors such as Teaching continue to thrive, offering a beacon of hope amidst a tighter job market. Employers’ willingness to offer higher salaries may signal optimism for skilled jobseekers in 2025.”

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