Recruitment chief warns of UK jobs recession and urges 'pro‑jobs' Autumn Budget
Lee Biggins of CV‑Library calls on the Chancellor to cut hiring taxes, reduce red tape and de‑risk recruitment as vacancies hit multi‑year lows
Britain is in a "jobs recession," and the Chancellor should use the November Autumn Budget to reinvigorate hiring, Lee Biggins, chief executive and founder of jobs site CV‑Library, warned in an opinion piece published on Sept. 16, 2025. Biggins said unemployment and collapsing vacancies require five clear fiscal and regulatory priorities to restore business confidence and spur private‑sector job creation.
Biggins said unemployment has risen to 4.7 percent, the highest in four years, while the number of job vacancies has fallen for 37 consecutive quarters. He told readers his firm's data show there are now an average of 2.3 unemployed people chasing each vacancy, nearly a million young people are not in employment, education or training, and millions remain on long‑term sickness benefits, putting upward pressure on welfare costs.
Among the factors Biggins singled out as dampening hiring were a rise in employer National Insurance contributions, which he described as a punitive cost on jobs, and legislative changes proposed in the Employment Rights Bill that he said risk making recruitment more expensive and legally risky for employers. He also highlighted the impact of artificial intelligence, noting that some large firms, including major accountancy groups, have cut graduate intakes as entry‑level roles are automated or restructured.
Biggins urged the Chancellor to adopt five principles in the Autumn Budget. First, he said the government should avoid concentrating the tax burden on businesses. Second, he called for a reduction in hiring and compliance red tape to lower the time and cost of recruiting. Third, he recommended targeted tax relief and hiring incentives to reward employers that create new, productive roles, with a focus on small and medium‑sized enterprises and high‑growth sectors. Fourth, he argued for a balanced Employment Rights framework intended to de‑risk recruitment by giving firms confidence to hire while protecting workers. Fifth, he urged incentives for private investment in job‑rich industries such as construction and hospitality through a predictable, growth‑related tax regime.
Business groups including the Confederation of British Industry, the Federation of Small Businesses and the British Chambers of Commerce have in recent months called for policies that strike a similar balance between worker protections and incentives for employers to take on staff. Biggins framed his recommendations as a way to restore business optimism, expand private investment and broaden opportunities for workers, noting that more people in employment typically raises tax receipts and national productivity while reducing welfare bills.
The call adds to wider debate over how to adapt fiscal and labour policy to the combined challenges of higher employment costs, slowing demand for labour and rapid technological change. Data showing prolonged vacancy declines contrast with sectoral shortages in public services such as education and social care, underscoring an uneven labour market.
Biggins's piece appeared in the Daily Mail and reflects the position of a recruitment industry executive rather than government policy. The Chancellor has said previous fiscal measures and workforce initiatives aim to support employment, and officials will face pressure from businesses and some employer groups to use the Autumn Budget to introduce measures intended to boost hiring and investment.