The market at a glance · Jobmundo analysis
South East hiring demand is rising, while advertised pay is rising.
New online job adverts in South East were 14.0% higher than three months earlier, in August 2026. Median advertised pay in South East is £31,550 in May 2025, 5.2% higher on the latest comparison.
Latest available releases can cover different periods. Pay figures are nominal, before inflation. ONS data is generally two months late.Comparing a job offer? See what common UK salaries pay after tax.
South East hiring demand
New online job adverts in South East
New online job adverts have increased since Aug 2025.
123,345
Aug 2026 · South East
Median advertised salary
Job adverts by annual salary range (ONS)
The median annualised asking salary is £31,550.
£31,550
May 2025 · South East
Number of job adverts · annual salary bands in GBP
Highest in demand careers in South East
New online job adverts and year-on-year change
| # | Occupation | New adverts | Change (YoY) | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sales accounts and business development managers | 5,950 | — | |
| 2 | Chefs | 5,597 | +2.7% | |
| 3 | Business sales executives | 4,641 | — | |
| 4 | Kitchen and catering assistants | 4,620 | +18.9% | |
| 5 | Delivery drivers and couriers | 4,509 | +45.7% | |
| 6 | Programmers and software development professionals | 4,499 | +81.7% | |
| 7 | Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians | 4,428 | — | |
| 8 | Other administrative occupations n.e.c. | 3,984 | +12.0% | |
| 9 | Book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks | 3,937 | — | |
| 10 | Metal working production and maintenance fitters | 3,608 | — |
Hiring near South East
New online job adverts in nearby areas
| # | Area | New adverts | Change (60d) | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buckinghamshire | 6,435 | +14.9% | |
| 2 | Milton Keynes | 5,297 | +15.4% | |
| 3 | Reading | 4,687 | +1.1% | |
| 4 | Southampton | 4,521 | -2.2% | |
| 5 | Oxford | 4,259 | -0.3% | |
| 6 | Slough | 4,100 | +33.8% |
Careers gaining momentum
Occupations with the strongest year-over-year rise in new adverts
| # | Occupation | New adverts | Change (YoY) | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shopkeepers and owners - retail and wholesale | 440 | +216.5% | |
| 2 | Brokers | 332 | +157.4% | |
| 3 | Other skilled trades n.e.c. | 515 | +153.7% | |
| 4 | Company secretaries and administrators | 100 | +117.4% | |
| 5 | Public relations professionals | 1,076 | +116.1% | |
| 6 | Typists and related keyboard occupations | 38 | +111.1% | |
| 7 | Hotel and accommodation managers and proprietors | 861 | +101.2% | |
| 8 | Industrial cleaning process occupations | 699 | +100.9% | |
| 9 | Managers and directors in the creative industries | 137 | +98.6% | |
| 10 | Rail transport operatives | 120 | +93.5% |
Careers losing momentum
Occupations with the steepest year-over-year fall in new adverts
| # | Occupation | New adverts | Change (YoY) | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air transport operatives | 26 | -61.8% | |
| 2 | Air travel assistants | 60 | -55.6% | |
| 3 | Archivists, conservators and curators | 21 | -32.3% | |
| 4 | Musicians | 39 | -31.6% | |
| 5 | Officers in armed forces | 70 | -20.5% | |
| 6 | Managers and proprietors in agriculture and horticulture | 58 | -19.4% | |
| 7 | Newspaper, periodical and broadcast editors | 31 | -18.4% | |
| 8 | Bricklayers | 224 | -18.2% | |
| 9 | Beauticians and related occupations | 540 | -14.3% | |
| 10 | Solicitors and lawyers | 2,689 | -13.6% |
About this report
Sources, periods & methodology
Each chart shows its own reporting period. These are observation dates, not publication dates. ONS data is generally two months late. Missing comparisons stay unavailable. The hiring glance compares the latest month with three months earlier. Pay still uses published annual changes and does not compare mismatched pay periods.
Hiring demand August 2026
South East · New online adverts first appearing in each period. This is not the ONS Vacancy Survey.
Office for National Statistics · textkernel_job_adverts · Release: September 2026Advertised salary May 2025
South East · Annualised advertised asking pay. This is not employee earnings.
Office for National Statistics · online_job_advert_salaries · Release: January 2017 to May 2025Source: Office for National Statistics — employment and labour market. Charts and interpretation by Jobmundo. ONS does not endorse this analysis.
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View jobs in South EastSource: Office for National Statistics