Strategic Career Moves: Declining a Promotion Without Burning Bridges

A workplace culture writer specialising in employee wellbeing, flexible working trends, and HR innovation. Helping organisations create healthier, more productive work environments through trusted insights and data-driven content.

The latest data shows that the UK labour market continues to perform steadily in 2025, with employment levels holding firm and job vacancies remaining historically high. While pay growth has slowed slightly, overall workforce activity remains strong, supported by high participation and resilient hiring demand. Liz Jones, Recruitment Director at people2people UK, says that this steady picture aligns closely with trends identified in the firm’s 2025 UK Market Report. “We are still seeing a healthy labour market,” she explains. “Employment is growing, and job openings remain strong, especially in sectors such as healthcare, logistics and professional services.” Employment Rate Rises, Unemployment Falls According to the July 2025 bulletin, the UK employment rate rose to 76.4 percent, the highest in over a year. The unemployment rate dropped to 3.7 percent, a level not seen since early 2020. This marks continued improvement in labour force participation following a volatile period during the pandemic recovery. Jones notes that this trend is being felt across multiple industries. "Businesses are rebuilding workforces and candidates are returning to the labour market," she says. "It is encouraging to see stronger engagement from both employers and jobseekers." Pay Growth Slows but Remains Positive One notable shift in the July update is a softening of pay growth. Annual wage increases for the period stood at 5.2 percent, down from 6.1 percent earlier in the year. This reflects a more balanced economic climate as inflation eases and employers stabilise budgets. “While pay growth is slowing, it is still above historical averages,” Jones comments. “Employers are adjusting to cost pressures, but most remain committed to offering competitive salaries to retain talent.” Vacancies Stay High, Reflecting Continued Demand Despite slower wage growth, the number of job vacancies remains elevated. Sectors such as care, education, and IT continue to post consistent hiring demand, with temporary and contract roles seeing a modest rise in 2025. “Our market report shows that employers are being more selective, but they are still hiring,” says Jones. “The competition for skilled talent is keeping demand steady, especially for roles that require specialist expertise or qualifications.” Implications for Employers With a stable employment base and slower but sustained pay growth, Jones suggests that now is a critical time for companies to refine their recruitment strategies. She recommends: Reviewing salary benchmarking to stay competitive in priority roles Streamlining recruitment processes to reduce vacancy durations Investing in retention through training and internal mobility Enhancing employer branding to attract passive candidates “The market is not slowing down,” she says. “It is settling. Employers who respond with clarity and flexibility will continue to secure great talent.” Summary The July 2025 labour market update confirms a period of stability for the UK workforce. While pay increases are moderating, employment levels remain high and hiring activity continues across core sectors. For recruitment leaders, this is a time to invest in strategy, not to pull back. With the right planning, employers can navigate this market with confidence.

Pressure to Return to the Office Is Driving Resentment Among UK Workers As flexible working continues to define the future of employment, new findings suggest the UK may be facing a growing disconnect between employer expectations and employee preferences. According to people2people UK’s 2025 Market Report, more than half of workers feel increasing pressure to spend additional time in the office, a shift that is impacting engagement and retention across multiple sectors. Liz Jones, Recruitment Director at people2people UK, says that rigid workplace policies are now a leading contributor to candidate reluctance and employee churn. "Our data shows that 54 percent of UK employees feel pushed to return to the office more than they want to," she explains. "This pressure is not just inconvenient. It is reshaping how people view their current roles and future opportunities." Where the Pressure Comes From The 2025 Market Report found that much of the drive to return to the office stems from top leadership, with executive teams leading the call for more on-site presence. This push is not always aligned with performance metrics or employee feedback. "This is not about output or productivity," says Jones. "It is about outdated assumptions. Leadership often equates visibility with value, but that mindset is increasingly out of step with how modern teams work best." The mismatch between executive expectations and employee needs is contributing to declining morale, particularly in office-based roles that could easily operate on a hybrid basis. Flexibility Still Matters Despite the push to increase office attendance, flexibility remains a top priority for candidates and employees. The Market Report confirms that roles offering flexible working continue to receive more applications, fill faster, and maintain lower turnover rates. "Flexibility is not a temporary trend," Jones adds. "It is now a standard part of what professionals expect. Candidates are telling us clearly that how they work matters just as much as where or for whom." The data reveals that teams which embrace flexible models tend to report stronger engagement, better collaboration, and improved retention outcomes, especially in sectors such as tech, finance, and professional services. What Employers Should Do To stay competitive, Jones advises that employers need to reevaluate their return-to-office strategies with both data and empathy in mind. people2people UK recommends: Involving employees in setting attendance expectations Tailoring policies by role, function, and team needs Communicating the reasons for on-site requirements clearly and consistently Measuring the impact of attendance policies on productivity and engagement "One-size-fits-all approaches no longer work," Jones notes. "Companies that listen to their teams and create flexibility within structure will outperform those that rely on top-down mandates." Looking Ahead As the labour market continues to evolve, the ability to offer meaningful flexibility will be a deciding factor in who attracts and retains top talent. The 2025 UK Market Report shows a strong correlation between adaptive working policies and long-term business resilience. "Employers have a choice," Jones concludes. "They can lead with trust and flexibility, or risk losing great people to those who do."

Candidate availability in the UK labour market has increased at the fastest rate since December 2020. Our 2025 people2people UK Market Report highlights the same trend that has been flagged, with the volume of candidates rising sharply due to redundancies and subdued hiring activity. Market Supply Meets Reduced Demand Liz Jones at people2people UK notes that the shift represents a clear imbalance. "Candidate supply is surging as job openings contract," she commented, in line with findings from our 2025 market report. "More people are actively looking but there are fewer roles available. This impacts how recruiters and HR managers plan talent attraction and engagement strategies." Salary Impact and Recruitment Strategy The increase in candidate availability has also influenced pay trends. Salary growth has remained modest due to reduced hiring budgets and greater competition for fewer active roles. "With more talent available and slower demand from employers, organisations are better positioned to be selective," Liz shared from our analysis. "This is a chance to focus on quality of hire rather than speed of hire." What This Means for Employers In a market with rising candidate supply and fewer opportunities, jobseekers become more discerning. They are assessing potential employers based on culture, flexibility, development opportunities, and brand values. Liz Jones advises that businesses should: Clearly articulate what makes them stand out to candidates Review their employer value proposition against market expectations Consider investing in candidate experience platforms and employer branding Maintain recruitment agility so they can swiftly fill roles when market conditions improve Preparing for Market Recovery Our 2025 report shows that while hiring activity remains subdued, there are early signs of resilience in sectors such as engineering, logistics and healthcare. "This market may feel cautious," Liz explains, "but there are pockets of opportunity. Organisations that maintain readiness will be first to tap into recovering sectors and talent pools."