HR and accounting employment, wages up amid legal pressures, finds Employment Hero

Research from Employment Hero has found that employment in HR and accounting roles rose 9.9% year-on-year in February, as small businesses prepared for changes in the UK labour market. 

Wages for HR and accounting jobs also rose, up 16.4% year-on-year in February, compared with 8.8% wage growth across all small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) jobs. 

Separate research from Employment Hero found most small business leaders planned to invest in HR and compliance experts to get ready for the new employment rules.

Full-time jobs across all sectors went up 13.4% year-on-year in February, almost three times the 4.9% rise in part-time and casual roles. 

Kevin Fitzgerald, UK managing director at Employment Hero, said: “Our latest data shows a clear surge in demand for HR expertise across the SME sector. 

“Employment in HR and accounting roles has risen nearly 10% year-on-year, with wages climbing more than 16% as businesses compete for the skills needed to navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

“With the Employment Rights Act on the horizon, many small businesses are choosing to strengthen their HR capability rather than risk falling behind on compliance.”

Fitzgerald added: “The data also shows full-time roles are growing faster than part-time, which may reflect a shift towards more stable and predictable employment structures as businesses adapt to evolving regulation.”