The number of HGV driver vacancies advertised in June was 35.4% higher than in May, according to the latest quarterly labour-market analysis from CV-Library.
Across the whole of the second quarter, 30,421 vacancies were advertised in the platform’s “tractor-trailer truck driver” category. This was 20.8% higher than in the previous quarter and 10.2% above the level recorded a year earlier. CV-Library’s terminology reflects its job-classification system; in the UK, the positions would normally be described as HGV driver roles.
Logistics recruitment outpaces the wider market
The increase formed part of a broader recovery in logistics and distribution recruitment. Employers advertised 76,639 vacancies across the sector during the second quarter, up from 65,806 in the preceding three months. This represented quarterly growth of 16.5% and an increase of 17.3% compared with the same period in 2025.
The annual rise was considerably stronger than the 6.7% average recorded across the wider UK employment market.
Nevertheless, vacancy figures indicate the number of positions being advertised rather than the number of people ultimately hired. The increase may reflect business expansion, staff turnover or employers repeatedly trying to fill difficult positions.
June was also a stronger month for the wider labour market. The number of vacancies advertised across all UK sectors rose by 21% from May, reaching its highest level since October 2023. More than half of the employers surveyed by CV-Library expect their workforce to grow over the next six months.
Employers still struggling to find suitable candidates
The rise in vacancies does not mean recruitment has become easier. Half of the businesses surveyed said finding candidates with the appropriate skills was more difficult than it had been 12 months earlier. Employment costs are also putting pressure on companies. Some 62% of respondents said their staffing costs had risen over the past year, with higher employer National Insurance contributions cited most frequently as the main cause.
Meanwhile, average advertised salaries across the market increased by only 2.28% year on year.
The findings strengthen calls for closer cooperation between employers and education providers. Logistics UK recently welcomed planned reforms aimed at connecting schools and colleges more closely with businesses and local labour market requirements.
The association said logistics supports around 8% of the UK workforce but continues to compete with other industries for new recruits. It argued that vocational and technical education could help young people discover careers in logistics while giving employers access to workers with the skills they require.
The planned reforms are expected to begin in October 2028, with regional authorities helping to develop training that reflects local employers’ needs.
