Andy Burnham is facing a fresh jobs crisis as 10 major companies confirm thousands of UK roles are being cut. The Prime Minister is grappling with a rising unemployment rate, which hit 4.9% between May and July 2026, up 0.2 percentage points compared to the previous year.
In another setback, job vacancies have also declined, with 8,000 fewer postings than in the previous quarter. The cuts span a range of sectors, from national broadcasters to postal services and car manufacturers.
Royal Mail and Jaguar Land Rover announce major reductions
Royal Mail has confirmed plans to cut thousands of jobs by the end of 2027, citing falling demand for letter deliveries. Around 2,500 head office and supporting roles will be lost, affecting 2% of the 131,000-strong workforce. The company said the proposed changes will “remove duplication” and allow it to “invest further in the service” for customers. Frontline postal workers are not understood to be part of the restructuring.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) announced last month that it would cut 4,000 jobs in the UK, with most roles coming from its head office. The company said it hopes most of the cuts can be made through voluntary redundancy. JLR chief executive PB Balaji said: “The automotive industry faces significant challenges, with technological change amidst intense competition and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.”
BBC and Greggs also slash roles
The BBC is cutting up to 2,000 roles as part of a bid to save £500 million. BBC Local staff have reportedly been told that the number of specialist correspondent roles will be reduced. Laura Davison, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, criticised the decision, saying: “The BBC’s ongoing campaign of cuts is devastating and demoralising for our members and severely undermines the broadcaster’s ability to serve audiences across the UK.”
Greggs is also scrapping hundreds of roles, with plans to close four factories at North Lakes in Cumbria, Pettigrews, Seaham and Enfield. This will lead to 740 job cuts, with the scheme expected to save around £20 million across the 2028 and 2029 financial years. The bakery chain said retail shops would not be affected by the proposed changes.
