Hiring confidence more than doubles year-on-year, ManpowerGroup finds

UK hiring confidence remained more than twice as high as a year earlier, the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey found.

The UK’s Net Employment Outlook stood at 23% for the fourth quarter of 2026, compared with 11% in the same period of 2025.

It fell from 36% in the third quarter, when a wave of delayed recruitment decisions contributed to a higher reading.

Four in 10 employers expect to increase staffing levels during the final quarter, while 17% plan to reduce their workforces.

Lee Chant, managing director for the UK and Ireland at ManpowerGroup UK, said: “At first glance, the story looks like hiring confidence has fallen, but that’s only true if you compare it to one of the strongest quarters we’ve ever seen.

“The real story is how employers have responded to the past 12 months. 

“Businesses have faced political change, rising employment costs, geopolitical disruption and no shortage of uncertainty, yet they have continued to invest in people and plan for growth.”

Chant added: “Many would have expected confidence to weaken much further. Instead, UK employers have shown a level of resilience that shouldn’t be underestimated.”