Human Times

UK Edition

8th June 2026

THE HOT STORY

Permanent hiring hit by higher costs

Permanent hiring has fallen to its lowest level in 10 months, according to research by KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC). Permanent hiring came in at 44.1 in May, the lowest figure since July last year, on an index where a reading below 50 signals contraction. The report shows that companies are increasingly opting for temporary workers due to low confidence in the economy, with the conflict in the Middle East pushing up inflation. Shop worker roles have been particularly affected, with high street businesses hit by higher minimum wage costs, taxes and energy bills. Neil Carberry, chief executive of the REC, said: "The clearest story in the economy right now is momentum being held up by uncertainty." Jon Holt, group chief executive and UK senior partner at KPMG, said: "Ongoing global and domestic uncertainty is making businesses more cautious, and that is increasingly reflected in hiring decisions."

SUSTAINABILITY

Net-zero is 'destroying jobs', union head says

Gary Smith, the general secretary of the GMB union, has accused the Labour Party of "destroying jobs" through its clean energy policies. He said that such policies are "closing factories, hitting investment and hitting jobs." Smith dismissed energy secretary Ed Miliband's claims that increasing North Sea oil and gas production would not benefit the economy as "utter nonsense," and warned that an ideological push for clean energy is leading to growing support for Reform UK among frustrated workers.

The Times

LEGAL

Nurse struck off for shifts she didn't work

Faith Chareka, a nurse at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, has been struck off for fraud after adding 50 shifts she did not work. The Nursing and Midwifery Council's (NMC) fitness to practise committee heard that between November 2020 and February 2023, Chareka earned nearly £20,000 by manipulating the roster. The offending was described during sentencing as being "committed against a publicly funded NHS body already under financial pressure," according to Rosie Welsh, who presented the case for the NMC. Welsh said Chareka "placed patients at potential risk of harm by exposing the [emergency department] to the potential risk of understaffing, delays, reduced support for colleagues and wider strain upon the service."

Daily Star

The I

The Times

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

M&S launches 'Not Just Any Career' scheme

Marks & Spencer has launched a new training programme aimed at helping 1,000 young people aged 18 to 24 into work over the next 18 months. The “Not Just Any Career” scheme will provide six months of retail management training, confidence-building and in-store experience before participants move into full-time roles. No degree is required. The initiative comes amid concerns about rising numbers of young people not in education, employment or training. M&S said the programme is designed to open career opportunities and develop future leaders, alongside its existing graduate and employability schemes.

Sunday Express

Sunday Times

HIRING

More graduates consider moving abroad for work

One in ten graduates this summer is considering moving abroad for better career prospects as opportunities for young people in the UK continue to shrink. According to a High Fliers survey, only 27% of students have secured a job for September, while the proportion planning to work overseas has risen from 7.8% to 10.2%.

Sunday Times

STRATEGY

British retailers cut 18,000 jobs last year

Major British retailers have cut nearly 18,000 jobs in the past year, driven by tax increases and rising minimum wages. According to analysis by Bloomberg, Tesco led the losses, reducing its workforce by almost 5,000. Other companies including Sainsbury's and Kingfisher also reported significant reductions. According to the British Retail Consortium, increased costs on the sector from National Insurance and the National Living Wage totalled £6.5bn.

Bloomberg

Daily Mail

WORKFORCE

PIP claims rise among higher-income households

New estimates from the Department for Work and Pensions suggest that around 197,000 households with annual incomes above £104,000 received Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in 2024-25, up from approximately 98,000 in 2021-22. PIP, which is not means-tested, supports people with long-term physical or mental health conditions. The number of claimants has risen to a record 3.9m, with annual spending reaching £26bn and projected to increase further.

Daily Mail

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Workload guidance sparks concerns among school leaders

The National Education Union (NEU) has published a new workload bargaining guide encouraging teachers to challenge tasks that could affect their work-life balance, including weekend work, marking requirements and the scheduling of school events. The guidance says staff should be consulted on activities such as parents' evenings, inset days and sports days and advises members to resist unreasonable workloads. School leaders have criticised the approach, arguing that requiring consultation on routine decisions would make schools harder to manage and could increase conflict. The dispute comes amid a rise in industrial action ballots and ongoing debates over teacher pay, funding and working conditions. The NEU says the guidance aims to protect teachers from excessive workloads, ensure schools follow agreed policies, and support staff wellbeing.

Sunday Times

TECHNOLOGY

Liz Kendall vows to protect jobs from AI

Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, has said Labour is committed to ensuring artificial intelligence benefits workers and pledges to support those whose jobs are lost due to AI advancements. Speaking ahead of London Tech Week, Kendall said: "We have got to make sure that everybody has got a chance to seize the opportunities from AI, and that means making sure the people and places that most need a decent shot at life, get the chances and choices they deserve."

The Guardian

ECONOMY

Services sector sees decline

The UK's services sector experienced a significant contraction in May, driven by the fallout from the conflict in Iran and political instability. BDO's index for services output fell to 93, indicating a downturn, while the overall output index fell to its lowest since February 2021.

The Times

INTERNATIONAL

Walmart shareholders reject AI workforce review amid automation push

Walmart shareholders have voted against a proposal seeking a report on how the retailer's growing use of AI affects employee wellbeing, despite concerns raised by workers about increased pressure, burnout and workplace safety risks. The vote came as Walmart expands its use of AI and automation across stores, warehouses and e-commerce operations in a bid to strengthen its position against Amazon. The company said AI is being deployed responsibly to support, rather than replace, human decision-making. Shareholders also rejected a proposal requesting an assessment of the impact of changing US immigration policies on Walmart’s operations.

Reuters

OTHER

GPs say ADHD and autism diagnoses are being expanded too broadly

A survey of 1,000 GPs has found that many believe diagnoses of ADHD and autism are increasingly being given to children whose difficulties may be better addressed through behavioural support. Three-quarters of respondents said the boundaries for diagnosing these conditions have widened to include behaviours previously considered within the normal range, while two-thirds felt that behavioural or environmental factors often play a greater role than neurodevelopmental disorders. The report also found that many GPs believe financial support linked to diagnoses can influence requests for assessments. The findings come amid rising numbers of children receiving special educational needs support and disability benefits.

Sunday Times

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