HR Market Update
As we reach the end of Q3 2026, there are growing signs that confidence is beginning to return to the UK recruitment market, although hiring activity remains measured rather than expansive.
The cautious approach that characterised much of the last two years has not disappeared, but there is a noticeable shift in sentiment. Organisations are continuing to recruit where there is a clear business need, and while budgeting and approval processes remain rigorous, decision making feels more confident than it did earlier in the year.
Perhaps the most notable development over the past quarter has been the improvement in permanent hiring activity. Recent market data indicates that permanent placements have increased for the first time in almost four years, marking an important milestone after a prolonged period of contraction. While growth remains modest, it suggests that employers are becoming more comfortable committing to longer-term hiring decisions. Recent recruitment industry reports have also highlighted continued growth in temporary and contract hiring, with many organisations balancing permanent recruitment plans alongside flexible workforce solutions.
Despite these encouraging signs, the wider labour market continues to reflect a cautious backdrop. Vacancy levels remain below those seen in previous years, and candidate availability has continued to rise. This has created a more competitive market for job seekers across many disciplines, while providing employers with greater choice than they have experienced for some time.
Permanent hiring: signs of renewed confidence
Throughout Q3, permanent recruitment activity has shown further signs of stabilisation.
Many organisations remain focused on controlling costs and improving efficiency, which continues to influence recruitment strategies. However, we are increasingly seeing businesses move forward with appointments linked to growth, transformation, succession planning and capability building, rather than recruiting solely to fill business-critical gaps.
Within HR, demand has remained strongest for individuals who can combine strong technical expertise with commercial awareness and stakeholder management skills. Employers continue to place significant value on professionals who can demonstrate tangible business impact and confidently support organisational change.
While recruitment processes can still be longer than candidates might expect, the overall direction of travel feels more positive than it did at the start of 2026.
Interim and flexible hiring: continuing to deliver value
Interim, project-based and fractional HR support remains a key feature of the market.
Many organisations continue to face competing priorities, including organisational change, policy development, employee relations activity and preparations linked to ongoing employment legislation reforms. As a result, businesses are often looking for experienced HR professionals who can make an immediate impact without increasing permanent headcount.
We continue to see demand across a range of interim HR disciplines, particularly within Employee Relations, HR Business Partnering, organisational change, transformation programmes and senior HR leadership roles.
Hunter Adams Insights
We’ve pulled together some of our Team’s top read articles from the past few months over on Linkedin and collated into the list below.
- What Should HR Be Tracking in 2027? Key People Metrics
- AI in Employee Relations: When helpful technology starts to create problems
- Leadership Priorities 2026: Five to Review This Autumn
As businesses grow, their people challenges evolve. What works for a team of 10 may no longer be effective when headcount reaches 50, 100 or beyond. To help business leaders navigate this journey, Hunter Adams has also published a new white paper: What HR Support Does a Growing Business Need? Whether you’re planning for growth, building management capability or reviewing your current HR approach, this white paper offers practical insights to support your next stage of development.
What’s been happening at Hunter Adams
With offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Manchester and London, Hunter Adams provides HR services across the UK.
The Team have been busy with lots of in person catch ups across these locations and attending a number of events, including:
HRA Connect
HRA Connect is a peer-to-peer network created by Hunter Adams for early to mid-career HR professionals who are looking to build meaningful connections, expand their network and learn from others across the HR community in an informal environment. We were delighted to welcome Donna Christie (Head of HR & Reward at Dana Petroleum) as our guest speaker at our September event. If you’d like to register your interest or find out some more information, please email laura.brownhill@hunteradams.co.uk (Aberdeen/Shire) or jude.fletcher@hunteradams.co.uk (Edinburgh).
Corporate Wellbeing Day
With wellbeing remaining high on the agenda for employers across the UK, we recently took the opportunity to focus on our own health and wellbeing at a dedicated Wellbeing Day hosted by Aberdeen Sports Village.
The day was a great chance to step away from our usual routines and try something new. We took part in reformer Pilates sessions, explored breathwork techniques designed to improve focus and reduce stress, and picked up a number of practical exercises and tips that can easily be incorporated into busy working days, whether that’s at a desk, between meetings or whilst working remotely.
As well as being an enjoyable day spent together as a team, it was a useful reminder that wellbeing isn’t always about big changes or grand gestures. Often it’s the simple habits that have the biggest impact, and we came away with plenty of ideas to help us bring a little more balance and energy into our day-to-day lives.
The Talent Gathering
Hunter Adams was delighted to sponsor the Talent Gathering in Edinburgh, bringing together Learning and Talent leaders for a dinner followed by a day of insightful conference sessions. It was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with our HR network, meet new faces and hear about the priorities shaping the people profession. A real highlight was keynote speaker Sir Chris Hoy, whose inspiring reflections on performance, resilience and focus left a lasting impression.
Overall outlook
The final quarter of 2026 appears more positive than many expected at the beginning of the year.
While the market is not experiencing a rapid rebound, there is increasing evidence that hiring confidence is gradually returning. Permanent recruitment has moved back into growth, interim demand remains resilient, and organisations are showing greater willingness to invest in people where there is a clear business case.
As we move towards 2027, the market feels more stable, more predictable and increasingly focused on securing the right expertise to support long-term organisational priorities.
Get in touch
If you’re an HR professional considering a move, or would like to have a chat about what’s happening in the market, our team is here to help.
Please see below for the best point of contact to support you with your search and feel free to connect with them via the links below:
Candice Thompson – Head of Recruitment – Permanent and FTC – North Scotland, England (Senior Hires), Wales & NI
Laura Brownhill – Senior Recruitment Manager – Interim (UK)
Jude Fletcher – Senior Recruitment Advisor – Permanent and FTC – Central Belt Scotland, England, Wales & NI
We also support businesses with recruitment across a wide range of roles – from operational and commercial positions through to specialist and leadership hires.
Eilidh Robertson – Head of Executive Search
If you’d like to keep an eye on our new vacancies, you can follow Hunter Adams to be kept up to date with our weekly Roles Roundup posts (every Friday):
