Insights

Despite speculation that the talent shortage would ease as markets stabilised, the reality in 2026 is more nuanced. The headline hiring crisis has cooled, but a deep and persistent skills shortage remains - particularly in specialist, technical and AI enabled roles.
Organisations are no longer hiring at breakneck speed. Instead, they are being far more strategic, focused on capability over headcount, and this shift has exposed a widening skills mismatch across the UK and global workforce.