UK employers are hiring again – these are the jobs in demand
Key Points
- More than a third of UK employers plan to increase permanent hiring before the end of 2026, according to Robert Half research.
- Technology and IT leads demand, with 47% of employers planning to add permanent staff.
- A quarter of employers plan to increase contract hiring and 24% intend to expand project-based hiring.
- Training, upskilling and reskilling are the main response to skills shortages at both SMEs and large organisations.
- Employers want technical skills combined with critical thinking, communication and business judgement as AI changes how work is done.
More than a third of UK employers plan to expand their permanent workforce before the end of the year, new research from talent solutions and consulting firm Robert Half shows.
The survey of 500 UK hiring managers found 34% intend to increase permanent headcount, while 25% plan to increase contract hiring and 24% plan to expand project-based hiring.
Employers are concentrating recruitment in technology, cybersecurity, accounting, risk and compliance, digital marketing and communications, legal affairs and customer support.
Robert Half developed the survey, and an independent research firm ran it in May 2026.
“Organisations are continuing to hire where skills are scarce, and talent can directly support strategic business objectives,” said Matt Weston, Senior Managing Director, UK and Ireland at Robert Half. “Employers are taking a targeted approach to hiring, prioritising specialist talent and investing in training and workforce development.”
Where the jobs are
Technology and IT tops every category, with 47% of employers planning to increase permanent hiring, 29% contract hiring and 30% project-based hiring. Finance and accounting follows on 38% permanent, 29% contract and 26% project-based.
Marketing and creative sits at 30% permanent, 22% contract and 24% project-based, while administrative and office support records 29% permanent, 25% contract and 22% project-based.
Legal, risk and compliance is the slowest of the five fields, at 24% permanent, 20% contract and 19% project-based.
Competition for the most sought-after candidates is set to tighten, with 26% of employers expecting greater competition for highly skilled talent.
Six in 10 small and midsized enterprises and 64% of large organisations name training, upskilling and reskilling as key strategies for handling workforce challenges. A further 36% plan to redesign roles and ways of working.
Employers are looking for candidates who pair technical expertise with critical thinking, communication skills and business judgement, indicating that AI is reshaping the nature of work rather than reducing demand for skilled staff.
“As organisations continue to grapple with skills shortages and an ageing workforce, they are investing in employee development and technology while competing for top talent,” Weston said.
“Employers increasingly need professionals who can use AI effectively while bringing the critical thinking, judgement and communication skills that technology alone cannot provide.”
