![\"Wagamama,](\"https:\/\/dailybusinessgroup.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Wagamama-service-hospitality-restaurant-scaled.jpg\")
Hospitality and retail were among the sectors worst hit by a fall in UK job vacancies to their lowest level in five years.<\/p>\n
Initial estimates suggest the number of job openings fell by 28,000, or 3.9%, to 705,000 between February and April, its lowest level since April 2021.<\/p>\n
The unemployment rate rose slightly to 5% in the three months to March, from 4.9% in the three months to February, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).<\/p>\n
Average regular earnings growth fell to 3.4% in the first three months of the year, and was 0.3% higher after inflation was taken into account.<\/p>\n
ONS director of economic statistics Liz McKeown said the latest figures \u201csuggest the labour market remains soft, with vacancies at their lowest level in five years and unemployment higher than a year ago\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cLower-paying sectors such as hospitality and retail have seen some of the largest falls in vacancies and payroll numbers, both in recent months and over the last year,\u201d McKeown said.<\/p>\n
The number of people on payrolls in April also fell. Payroll employment figures dropped by 100,000 last month, according to the ONS.<\/p>\n
However, Ms McKeown pointed out the figures come at the start of the new tax year, and they \u201ccarry greater uncertainty and have often seen larger than average upward revisions\u201d.<\/p>\n
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