Short answer: UK job vacancies fell to 691,000 in July to September 2026. Outside the pandemic, that is the lowest since 2014 (ONS). West Sussex went the other way. Online job adverts in the county reached 11,890 in August 2026, about 17% more than a year earlier (West Sussex County Council).
Two very different job markets
The national picture is gloomy. Vacancies fell by 37,000 (5.1%) in the year to July to September 2026, according to the ONS.
The sharpest drop is among the smallest employers. Vacancies at businesses with 1 to 9 staff fell 32.8% on the year, to 77,000. The ONS says feedback suggests smaller firms are holding back because labour costs have risen.
West Sussex tells a different story. The county council tracks unique online job postings every month, using data from Lightcast. Since the spring, postings have run well ahead of the same months in 2025.
| Month | Job postings in West Sussex | Change on a year earlier |
|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | 10,029 | about 2% lower |
| March 2026 | 10,497 | about 5% higher |
| July 2026 | 11,656 | about 15% higher |
| August 2026 | 11,890 | about 17% higher |
Source: West Sussex County Council economy snapshots (March, April, July and August 2026 editions).
The two measures are not the same. The ONS surveys employers, while the council counts online adverts. Still, the direction is clear. Local employers are advertising more, not less.
Who West Sussex employers want
Between March and August 2026, these were the most advertised jobs in the county (West Sussex County Council):
| Job | Postings, March to August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Home care workers | 4,148 |
| Retail sales staff | 3,499 |
| Cleaners | 2,436 |
| Chefs | 2,129 |
| Nursery and childcare staff | 1,735 |
Care, retail and hospitality lead the list. But office and professional roles are in the mix too. Auditing (1,729 postings) and continuous improvement (1,792) were among the specialist skills employers asked for most.
Horsham has very few people looking for work
More adverts only help if there are people to hire. In Horsham, there are very few.
Horsham’s claimant count rate was 2% in August 2026. That was the lowest of the seven West Sussex districts. The rate was 3.1% across West Sussex and 4.0% in England (West Sussex County Council, using ONS data).
That means about 1,750 Horsham residents were claiming unemployment benefits. Only 320 of them were aged 18 to 24.
The wider region is tight as well. In June to August 2026, 78.6% of people aged 16 to 64 in the South East were in work. Across the UK it was 75.3%. South East unemployment was 4.2%, against 4.7% nationally (ONS).
More adverts, fewer placements
The KPMG and REC Report on Jobs, published on 10 October, asked recruiters about September. Permanent placements rose across the UK at the fastest pace in four years. The South of England was the only region where they fell.
Put those facts side by side. West Sussex employers are advertising more roles than a year ago. Few local people are out of work. Fewer permanent hires are being made across the South.
In our view, that adds up to roles staying open for longer. It also means more local employers chasing the same people, most of whom already have a job.
What this means if you are hiring in Horsham
The national headlines suggest an employer’s market. Around Horsham, the numbers point the other way. The people you want are mostly in work, and other local businesses are advertising for them too.
Reaching them usually takes a direct conversation, not another advert. They are rarely scrolling job boards.
Ashley has recruited in Horsham and West Sussex for over 15 years. She screens and interviews every candidate herself, then puts three to five in front of you. You only pay once your new starter begins.
If you have a role to fill, tell Ashley what you need and she will come back to you.
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Vacancies and jobs in the UK, October 2026
- Office for National Statistics: Labour market in the regions of the UK, October 2026
- West Sussex County Council: Economy snapshots, March, April, July and August 2026
- KPMG and REC: UK Report on Jobs, October 2026