The market at a glance · Jobmundo analysis
Wales hiring demand is falling, while advertised pay is rising.
New online job adverts in Wales were 2.2% lower than three months earlier, in August 2026. Median advertised pay in Wales is £29,000 in May 2025, 3.2% 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.
Wales hiring demand
New online job adverts in Wales
New online job adverts have decreased since Aug 2025.
22,093
Aug 2026 · Wales
Median advertised salary
Job adverts by annual salary range (ONS)
The median annualised asking salary is £29,000.
£29,000
May 2025 · Wales
Number of job adverts · annual salary bands in GBP
Highest in demand careers in Wales
New online job adverts and year-on-year change
| # | Occupation | New adverts | Change (YoY) | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Care workers and home carers | 580 | -32.9% | |
| 2 | Sales and retail assistants | 513 | +0.6% | |
| 3 | Cleaners and domestics | 458 | -7.8% | |
| 4 | Delivery drivers and couriers | 384 | -14.5% | |
| 5 | Nursing auxiliaries and assistants | 381 | -19.8% | |
| 6 | Kitchen and catering assistants | 375 | -25.3% | |
| 7 | Teaching assistants | 336 | -13.8% | |
| 8 | Metal working production and maintenance fitters | 332 | +13.7% | |
| 9 | Chefs | 331 | -21.0% | |
| 10 | Other administrative occupations n.e.c. | 303 | -17.2% |
Hiring near Wales
New online job adverts in nearby areas
| # | Area | New adverts | Change (60d) | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiff | 5,165 | +1.3% | |
| 2 | Swansea | 1,596 | -19.4% | |
| 3 | Rhondda Cynon Taf | 1,288 | — | |
| 4 | Flintshire | 1,161 | +1.1% | |
| 5 | Carmarthenshire | 1,070 | — | |
| 6 | Bridgend | 1,007 | +6.9% |
Careers gaining momentum
Occupations with the strongest year-over-year rise in new adverts
| # | Occupation | New adverts | Change (YoY) | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health care practice managers | 105 | +517.6% | |
| 2 | Waste disposal and environmental services managers | 20 | +233.3% | |
| 3 | Veterinary nurses | 59 | +227.8% | |
| 4 | Marketing, sales and advertising directors | 54 | +157.1% | |
| 5 | Careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists | 60 | +150.0% | |
| 6 | Butchers | 20 | +150.0% | |
| 7 | IT project managers | 63 | +142.3% | |
| 8 | Veterinarians | 113 | +140.4% | |
| 9 | IT business analysts, architects and systems designers | 202 | +122.0% | |
| 10 | Prison service officers (below principal officer) | 51 | +121.7% |
Careers losing momentum
Occupations with the steepest year-over-year fall in new adverts
| # | Occupation | New adverts | Change (YoY) | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Debt, rent and other cash collectors | 22 | -55.1% | |
| 2 | Registered mental health nurses | 20 | -51.2% | |
| 3 | Farm workers | 29 | -50.0% | |
| 4 | Registered community nurses | 33 | -46.8% | |
| 5 | Customer service managers | 23 | -46.5% | |
| 6 | Transport and distribution clerks and assistants | 37 | -43.1% | |
| 7 | Medical and dental technicians | 31 | -42.6% | |
| 8 | Senior care workers | 94 | -41.2% | |
| 9 | Medical radiographers | 28 | -40.4% | |
| 10 | Protective service associate professionals n.e.c. | 39 | -40.0% |
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
Wales · 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
Wales · 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 WalesSource: Office for National Statistics