Demand for freelancers is continuous to rise as firms more and more flip to short-term specialists to fill resourcing wants throughout a turbulent interval within the labour market.
So says the most recent Hiring Traits evaluation from the Affiliation of Skilled Staffing Firms (APSCo) – produced at the side of Bullhorn – which reveals a 28% enhance in contract job postings year-on-year in February.
The transfer follows a big rise at the tail end of 2024.
Whereas the skilled recruitment market continues to be dealing with fluctuations, with everlasting jobs down 29% year-on-year, the uptick in freelance hiring means that demand for expertise persists, however uncertainty within the economic system is stopping some employers from growing everlasting headcount – for now.
APSCo operations director Samantha Hurley mentioned: “Given the turbulence that’s been created by macroeconomic points and deliberate reforms to employment laws, it’s no shock that everlasting hiring continues to be trying unsure.
“Nevertheless, the truth that demand for contractors within the skilled hiring market is up yearly demonstrates that employers nonetheless want assets and expertise – they’re simply not but prepared to extend headcount completely.
“For recruiters, this can be a promising signal for 2 causes; firstly, it exhibits that there are nonetheless pockets of alternative to faucet into – as our knowledge final month additionally echoed. Secondly, it does point out {that a} potential return to optimism in hiring could possibly be on the playing cards.
“Recruitment is cyclical, and when perm drops, contract will increase. That’s at all times been the case. Seeing this development does recommend that recruitment continues to be secure sufficient for now. Our hope is that the Authorities shortly recognises the detrimental influence of a few of its selections on the UK’s labour market and takes applicable motion consequently.”
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Charlie McKelvey
