Marvin OnumonuGlen Callum Associates (GCA) expects employers who communicate clearly, move quickly and offer competitive packages will stand out into 2026.
Research found the UK recruitment market stayed resilient through 2025, despite ongoing cost pressures and skills shortages.
Placement data showed steady hiring, with employers taking around eight weeks from sign-off to job offer, while candidates acted faster at 4.9 weeks.
Only 18% of candidates were actively job hunting, but 60% were open to new opportunities.
Kayleigh Bradley (pictured), senior recruiter at Glen Callum Associates, said: “When you look at the market as a whole, it’s clear that many of the best candidates aren’t actively applying.
“They’re open to conversations, but employers need strong outreach, clear messaging and competitive offers to access that wider pool.”
Salary remained the main reason people moved roles.
Average UK pay reached £42,531 in October, up 8.4% on the year before.
For employers, pay was vital to attract staff, and candidates paid close attention to their market value.
Unemployment held at around 5%, redundancy was low at 4.5 per 1,000 employees, and vacancies reached 723,000.
Opportunities were still available, even among caution.
Field-based posts made up 46% of roles, office-based 27%, with hybrid working at 18%.
Fully remote roles were limited at 9%, showing firms still wanted people in the workplace.
Transparency also made a difference, as fewer than half of job adverts included salary, but those that did got around 30% more applications.
Candidates who stay visible, flexible and well-prepared are best placed to make the most of opportunities in 2026, according to GCA.
