Manchester hiring is matching London as job postings climb
Key Points
- UK professional job postings exceeded 56,400 in May 2026, up 7% month-on-month and marking a second consecutive monthly increase, according to Robert Half.
- Finance and accounting hiring was driven by business services and manufacturing, with job postings up 24% and 26% respectively.
- Technology hiring accelerated, with Senior Business Analyst roles up 57% and Lead Engineer roles up 36% month-on-month.
- London recorded 10,600 roles in May, up 5%, while Manchester also reported a 5% increase in highly skilled job postings.
- Robert Half's Matt Weston said the trend could signal a more sustained recovery in professional hiring over the coming months.
UK professional job postings climbed for a second consecutive month in May, with Manchester matching London’s growth, according to data from global talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half.
The firm’s latest proprietary job posting database showed that professional role postings exceeded 56,400 in May, up 7% month-on-month. Robert Half said this marked the second consecutive monthly increase and brought hiring levels close to the highs recorded in January 2026.
The firm said demand was being driven by hiring for core positions across the finance and accounting and technology remits.
Within finance, Robert Half reported that hiring strengthened for Credit Controller roles, which increased by 19%, and Finance Director postings, which rose by 20%. The firm said this reflected a growing focus on financial governance, performance and strategic oversight.
Across sectors, the firm said finance and accounting hiring was bolstered by areas supporting operational delivery and long-term growth.
Business services saw a 24% month-on-month rise in job postings for finance and accounting roles, while demand from the manufacturing sector for the same positions increased by 26%. Robert Half said core roles such as Accounts Assistant, Finance Manager and Tax Manager continued to lead hiring volumes.
Technology hiring expanded in parallel, particularly in roles linked to digital transformation and innovation, according to the data. IT roles rose to 1,100 postings, up 12% month-on-month, with the strongest growth in specialist positions. Senior Business Analyst roles increased by 57% month-on-month, while Lead Engineer roles rose by 36%.
The data also showed that London continued to dominate hiring activity, with 10,600 roles recorded in May, a 5% increase on the previous month. Manchester reported a 5% uptick in job postings for highly skilled roles between April and May.
Matt Weston, Senior Managing Director, UK & Ireland at Robert Half, said there were emerging indications of increasing activity in the UK jobs market following a gradual start to the year.
He added that employers were focusing on the roles that mattered most to business performance, particularly in finance and technology, where demand was being driven by the need for stronger governance, cost control and digital delivery.
Weston said businesses were making targeted investments in high-impact, specialist roles that support resilience and long-term growth. He added that this reflected a more deliberate and strategic approach to hiring, and that if the trend continued, it could signal a more sustained recovery in professional hiring over the coming months.
