Marvin OnumonuUK employers are now more worried about delays in hiring than about economic instability, data from recruitment firm Robert Half found.
The research showed 65% of businesses said the biggest risk to operations is how fast they can hire, putting this ahead of concerns such as the economy and budgets.
Firms across the UK are struggling to find skilled staff in finance and accounting, IT and technology, administration, marketing and legal, according to data.
Employers said they are losing good candidates because of not having enough resources, slow decisions and inefficient hiring processes.
Other pressures include keeping top staff, finding qualified people for roles and attracting those with specialist skills.
These issues were each named by 63% of business leaders.
Matt Weston, senior managing director UK & Ireland at Robert Half, said: “UK businesses are facing an unexpected challenge as we move further into 2026: the biggest risk to operational continuity is no longer economic volatility; it’s the speed at which companies can hire.
“In a market characterised by acute talent shortages across finance, technology and legal, skilled professionals often receive multiple offers and move quickly.
“When internal processes are slow or too complex, employers risk missing out entirely.”
Weston added: “This marks a clear shift in the talent landscape. External pressures will always influence business confidence, but right now, what appears to be limiting competitiveness most is an internal factor – namely, process inefficiency.
“This is why we’re seeing such strong growth in interim and project-based hiring, as firms seek immediate access to specialist skills without being constrained by lengthy recruitment cycles.
“Streamlining recruitment, empowering faster decision‑making and creating a compelling candidate experience are no longer ‘nice‑to‑haves’ in this environment.”
He said: “They are essential capabilities for safeguarding growth and ensuring that organisations don’t fall behind in the race for talent.”
