The UK tax labour market is entering a correction phase after a sharp expansion in 2025. Vacancies rose by around 19% last year, but are now projected to decline by roughly 10% in 2026, pointing to stabilisation rather than contraction.
Hiring conditions in the South West have improved at the start of 2026, though the pace remains controlled. Vacancies rose by 7.9% compared to the previous quarter, returning close to levels seen at the start of 2025. This suggests demand has stabilised, with employers resuming hiring where required rather than expanding broadly
Engineering hiring across the UK pharmaceuticals sector is entering a period of adjustment, with vacancies forecast to fall by 31.5% in 2026 following strong growth of 19.2% in 2025. The shift reflects a move away from expansion-led hiring towards a more efficiency-driven approach, as organisations respond to cost pressures and evolving operating models.
Hosted in Partnership with Mercury CRM, the AI Transformation Forum is a quarterly breakfast event, for business owners and senior executives who are interested in how technology is transforming business and what this means for hiring trends as a result.
The Finance Forum is a quarterly breakfast event, for business owners and senior executives who are interested in the latest economic trends, in terms of what it means for the London labour market, specifically within Finance.
