Britain’s labour market showed signs of weakness ahead of April’s employer tax hike, with job cuts and falling vacancies. Despite this, strong wage growth challenges the Bank of England’s decision-making, as it weighs inflation risks and economic slowdown amid global trade uncertainty.
Britain’s labour market showed signs of weakening ahead of the tax hike on employers set for April, with job cuts and a fall in vacancies reported. According to data from the Office for National Statistics, vacancies fell below pre-COVID levels for the first time in almost four years. In March, the number of employees dropped by 78,000, marking the biggest decline since early 2020.
Despite the job losses, wage growth remained robust, with average weekly earnings rising by 5.9% in the three months to February, a slight increase from the previous month. This strong pay growth presents a challenge for the Bank of England, which must decide whether to continue cutting interest rates in response to weakening economic conditions.
In addition to domestic pressures, the impact of U.S. trade tariffs on global growth and the UK's exports is adding uncertainty. As finance minister Rachel Reeves’ social security contribution hikes come into effect, it is expected to slow wage growth, which could further dampen hiring. Meanwhile, the UK’s minimum wage rise may also influence employer decisions on staffing levels. The Bank of England faces a tough balancing act as it navigates inflation and economic slowdown risks.
UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has suggested that the government may consider Chinese investment in British Steel, but he emphasized that any such bids would be subject to thorough scrutiny, particularly due to national security and economic concerns.
Kyrgyzstan and the United Kingdom have discussed expanding bilateral cooperation through UK-backed financing for major investment projects in energy, construction, and digital development.
Britain has delivered a second payment of 752 million pounds ($990 million) to Ukraine as part of a broader $50 billion international loan package aimed at supporting Ukraine’s defense efforts.
The UK has announced a major new package of support for Ukraine, worth £450 million, which includes hundreds of thousands specialised drones.
The United Kingdom has sanctioned four more high-ranking Georgian officials for their role in allowing serious human rights violations in response to legitimate protests in Georgia since 2024.
A shooting took place Thursday at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee, Florida, leading to multiple victims and a suspect being taken into custody, according to local authorities. At least six people have been hospitalized, with one in critical condition and others in serious condition.
U.S. President Donald Trump's desire to influence the yen's exchange rate in the ongoing trade negotiations with Japan is likely to create challenges for both nations, analysts warned.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has accepted an invitation from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to visit Ankara next month. The visit will coincide with the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting, which will be held in May.
Puerto Rico experienced its second full power outage in just four months on Wednesday, following a system failure that left most of the island without electricity.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, stating on Thursday that Powell's termination "cannot come fast enough."
A small plane crashed near Kopake, New York, on April 13, killing at 6 people. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, carrying six people, went down under unclear circumstances. This marks the second aviation accident in New York in a week, raising safety concerns.
The Russian ruble has emerged as the top-performing currency globally in 2025, registering an impressive 38% appreciation against the US dollar since the beginning of the year, according to a report by Bloomberg.
Several regions in Ukraine faced heightened alert on Palm Sunday, as reports of explosions and missile threats drew public attention and official responses.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 16th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A tourist helicopter crashed into New York City's Hudson River on Thursday, killing all six people on board, including a Spanish family with three children and the pilot.
The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims decreased by 9,000 last week, falling to 215,000, according to data from the US Labor Department released on Thursday.
A shooting took place Thursday at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee, Florida, leading to multiple victims and a suspect being taken into custody, according to local authorities. At least six people have been hospitalized, with one in critical condition and others in serious condition.
U.S. President Donald Trump's desire to influence the yen's exchange rate in the ongoing trade negotiations with Japan is likely to create challenges for both nations, analysts warned.
Puerto Rico experienced its second full power outage in just four months on Wednesday, following a system failure that left most of the island without electricity.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, stating on Thursday that Powell's termination "cannot come fast enough."
A shooting took place Thursday at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee, Florida, leading to multiple victims and a suspect being taken into custody, according to local authorities. At least six people have been hospitalized, with one in critical condition and others in serious condition.
U.S. President Donald Trump's desire to influence the yen's exchange rate in the ongoing trade negotiations with Japan is likely to create challenges for both nations, analysts warned.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has accepted an invitation from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to visit Ankara next month. The visit will coincide with the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting, which will be held in May.
Puerto Rico experienced its second full power outage in just four months on Wednesday, following a system failure that left most of the island without electricity.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, stating on Thursday that Powell's termination "cannot come fast enough."
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