CBI survey finds consumer services jobs falling faster as professional services slowdown eases

The Confederation of British Industry’s latest service sector survey shows employment contracting across UK services, with consumer-facing businesses such as shops, restaurants and hotels cutting staff at a quickening pace while job losses in business and professional services are slowing.

Consumer services employment is falling at an accelerating rate, according to the CBI’s Service Sector Survey for the quarter to August — a pattern that will concern workers in Kent’s retail centres, coastal hospitality businesses, and leisure venues. The figures show that while job cuts in business and professional services are slowing, firms in consumer-facing sectors expect headcount to keep falling at a similar rate next quarter. By contrast, business and professional services firms expect employment to stabilise.

The scale of the pressure on consumer services is not new. The CBI’s August 2025 survey recorded net balances of minus 16 per cent for business and professional services employment and minus 36 per cent for consumer services — meaning firms reporting declines outnumbered those reporting increases by a wide margin. Exact net balance figures for the quarter to August 2026 have not been published in disaggregated form, but the directional picture is clear.

Nationally, HMRC PAYE data show retail employment fell by about 75,000 and hospitality employment by around 62,000 over the past year, compared with a rise of around 63,000 in administrative and support services. UK vacancies for May to July 2026 stood at roughly 707,000 — down by about 6,000, or 0.8 per cent, on the previous period, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Kent sits within the South East, which recorded an employment rate of about 78.2 per cent in April to June 2026, above the UK average of 75.1 per cent, and the lowest economic inactivity rate of any UK region at around 18.4 per cent. But high regional employment doesn’t insulate local workers from sector-specific cuts. Job posting intensity in the South East is below pre-pandemic baselines, according to Indeed HiringLab data, suggesting fewer new opportunities are emerging to absorb those displaced.

Towns like Maidstone, Canterbury and Ashford — and coastal areas including Thanet, Folkestone and Dover — have significant concentrations of retail, hospitality and tourism businesses that sit squarely in the consumer services category bearing the brunt of the current contraction. Kent workers in shops, bars, hotels and visitor attractions may face reduced hours or fewer seasonal roles if the national trend continues. Those in accountancy, legal, IT and consulting roles linked to London and the Thames Estuary are, on the CBI’s own expectations, likely to see a steadier period ahead.

The CBI survey measures sentiment and expectations, not official headcounts, and should be read alongside ONS statistics rather than in place of them.

Key information

• Workers affected by redundancy or reduced hours can contact their local Jobcentre Plus for support with job search and benefits claims.
• Kent County Council coordinates skills and retraining programmes for residents seeking to move into more resilient sectors; details are available through the council’s employment and skills pages.
• The ONS publishes updated UK labour market figures monthly; the next bulletin will provide fresh data on vacancies, employment and pay.