How are accountant vacancies faring amidst the challenging times in England and Wales’ broader economy? What are the leading sectors and roles? Which regions have the highest activity, and which firms are the busiest? Download our new report to find out.
Written in partnership with Morgan McKinley, this report analyses the recruitment of accountant professionals within different sectors in England and Wales. It observes the trends of the annual and monthly totals, compares the skills in demand, a regional breakdown of recruitment, and the hiring activity of top firms.
To discover more insights and trends in the UK’s labour market,
download the report now!
North West – Regional Labour Market Trends, March 2026
The North West enters 2026 from a position of relative strength, following a 7.7% increase in vacancies in 2025. However, that growth was far from smooth. Hiring peaked in March, rising 19.2% month-on-month, before falling 16.0% by August. Despite these swings, overall demand remained resilient, with the region accounting for 55.1% of all northern vacancies.
AI & Data Focus – UK Tech Labour Market Trends, March 2026
The UK’s data and AI labour market reached record levels in 2025, with vacancies rising 18.4% year-on-year as businesses moved beyond pilot programmes and began integrating AI into core workflows at scale. Annualised 2026 figures point to a further 13.2% increase, with January and February already posting year-on-year growth of 20.0% and 31.7% respectively. If current trends continue, one in four jobs in the sector will have been created in the last two years, a pace of growth unmatched by virtually any other part of the UK economy.
Regulatory Affairs – UK Life Sciences Labour Market Trends, March 2026
Regulatory affairs hiring across UK life sciences contracted in 2025 as multinational pharmaceutical firms implemented widespread restructuring. London absorbed the majority of cuts, with vacancies falling by 29.3%, reflecting reductions concentrated at headquarters. Across the rest of the UK, hiring proved more resilient, declining by 7.7% while increasing its share of demand.
