{
  "id": 1678094,
  "title": "UK labour market loses more momentum in second quarter",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/uk-labour-market-loses-more-momentum-in-second-quarter",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-18T07:59:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2026/08/18/uk-labour-market-loses-more-momentum-in-second-quarter"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "British labour market slowed further in Q2, data indicates. Private sector earnings growth slowed to 2.8% annually in Q2, the weakest since October 2020. Vacancies hit five-year low of 707k in Q2, down from 711k in Q1. Unemployment held steady at 4.9%. Most Bank of England policymakers seem pleased to keep interest rates unchanged, but the central bank may wait until year-end to assess impact of rising energy prices from the Iran conflict on pay settlements. Economists note a cooling labour market, a potential downside risk amid uncertainty over US-Iran tensions and possible October tax hikes. Payrolls fell 12,850 in July, sixth straight month of decline.",
  "summary": "Job vacancies edged down to 707,000 in the three months to July from 711,000 in the previous three months.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}