- Job vacancies in the UK fell by 8,000 quarter-on-quarter to 702,000 in the three months to August, reaching a five-year low.
- Small businesses reported that rising wage bills and increased labour costs were holding them back from recruiting new staff.
- Total wage growth slowed to 3.9 per cent in the three months to July, putting pensioners on course for a 3.9 per cent state pension uplift next year.
- The UK unemployment rate held steady at 4.9 per cent, though early estimates show payrolled employee numbers dropped by 26,000 in August.
- Policymakers are expected to keep interest rates on hold at 3.75 per cent on Thursday, though economists warn a rate hike could follow in November.
IN FULL
Job vacancies hit five-year low as small firms scale back new hires
