Ryan FowlerRobert Half has reported a marked increase in hiring confidence among UK employers heading into 2026, with new data showing plans to expand both permanent and flexible workforces despite continued economic uncertainty.
The research found that 47% of employers intend to increase permanent headcount across professional functions in the first half of 2026. This represents a notable rise from 36% in the second half of 2025 and reflects growing confidence in strategic expansion. Roles in finance and accounting, IT, administration, marketing and legal functions are all expected to see increased recruitment activity.
Interim hiring intentions have also reached their highest level since early 2024, with 47% of organisations planning to increase interim recruitment. Employers are using interim talent to boost delivery capacity, particularly in finance, technology and marketing, where businesses continue to invest in automation, regulatory compliance and digital transformation programmes.
Contract hiring is also gaining momentum, with 36% of employers planning to expand their contract workforce in early 2026. This approach is proving particularly popular in legal, risk and compliance roles, as organisations look for flexibility to respond to changing regulatory and operational pressures.
Demand for finance and accounting professionals remains especially strong. According to the data, 58% of employers plan to grow permanent headcount in these functions during the first half of 2026, up from 50% in the previous six months. Contract hiring in finance and accounting is also increasing, with 43% of businesses planning to add temporary support.
IT and technology roles are close behind, with 56% of organisations expecting to expand permanent teams, an increase of 11% compared with late 2025. Contract hiring in IT is also rising, with 39% of employers planning to increase flexible resources. Legal and compliance functions are seeing the sharpest rebound, with permanent hiring intentions rising from 26% to 42% over the same period, alongside a rise in contract hiring.
Matt Weston, senior managing director UK & Ireland at Robert Half, said: “Despite ongoing economic uncertainty, these figures show that UK businesses are entering 2026 with a promising sense of cautious optimism and ambition. The increase in permanent headcount plans, alongside the surge in interim and contract hiring, reflects a strategic focus on agility and resilience. Organisations are investing in critical functions such as finance, technology, and legal to strengthen compliance, accelerate digital transformation, and maintain competitive advantage.
“Employers are clearly building future-ready teams that can adapt to change and deliver growth and, encouragingly, there seems to be a recognition that flexibility is key. By combining permanent hires with interim and contract talent, businesses are positioning themselves to respond quickly to market demands while driving innovation across their operations.”
