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37% of UK businesses plan to hire in Q3 2026 – ManpowerGroup

49% of employers expect to increase staffing levels, 12% expect to reduce headcount, and 35% expect no change. 

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Data from ManpowerGroup showed 37% of UK businesses plan to hire in the third quarter of 2026, with the UK recording the fourth most positive hiring outlook globally. 

The Net Employment Outlook stood at 37, up 10 points quarter-on-quarter and 18 points year-on-year. 

49% of employers expect to increase staffing levels, 12% expect to reduce headcount, and 35% expect no change. 

The North-West recorded the strongest regional outlook at 48%, with the North-East at 46%, Northern Ireland at 45%, and Wales rising to 29%. 

London reported an outlook of 32%, with hiring stronger outside the capital. 

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Organisations with 250 to 999 employees recorded the highest intent at 43%, followed by those with 50 to 249 employees at 42%. 

Employers with fewer than 10 employees had the lowest outlook at 24%.

Michael Stull, UK managing director at ManpowerGroup UK, said: “UK businesses are realising the need for people. Uncertainty has dominated the UK economy and job market for months, but that is not sustainable for businesses, employees or the consumer. 

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“That’s why we are seeing the needle shifting in terms of a willingness to hire.”

“Employers planned to recruit across a range of seniority levels, with 47% expecting to hire for entry-level roles, 39% for non-management individual contributor positions, and 30% for low-level management or supervisor roles.”

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Stull added: “Although there is a willingness to hire, the picture is not clear cut. We know that hiring will not be on a mass scale – instead we expect many businesses to hire in single figures – and we also anticipate that businesses will be recruiting for roles which they’ve delayed filling. 

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“Despite these nuances, it is still extremely positive to see that there is an appetite to hire in the UK and the same cannot be said for other markets globally. 

“So, while the UK is far from out of the woods, our research points to a more hopeful outlook.”

He said: “It is well reported that the UK has a deep-rooted youth unemployment issue, which cannot be solved overnight. 

“It will require fundamental change across all parts of the jobs ecosystem. 

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“However, I am encouraged to see that nearly half of those surveyed plan to recruit entry-level roles. This is a step – albeit small – in the right direction.”

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