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Q1 2026 Recruitment Market Insights

The market has shifted. Unemployment is up, vacancies have plateaued - but skilled roles in Finance, Cyber, and Operations remain critically hard to fill. This quarter's report cuts through the noise to give you the intelligence you need to hire smarter, retain longer, and lead with confidence in 2026.

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Real Labour Market Data

South England Focus

Actionable Talent Strategy

Do you find yourself struggling with...

  • Understanding what the rise in unemployment actually means for your hiring pipeline - and why some roles are harder to fill than ever
  • Knowing whether your salaries are still competitive as pay growth shifts by region and function
  • Getting your EVP to land beyond the boardroom - and why your line managers are the real test of whether it works
  • Moving fast enough in a market where candidate caution is rising and the best people are evaluating you just as much as you're evaluating them
  • Closing the gap between your leadership's growth expectations and the capability you actually have on the ground
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What's Inside the Report

In a market defined by scrutiny rather than shortage, the advantage goes to employers who understand the data and know how to act on it. Our Q1 2026 Market Insights brings together the latest ONS and KPMG/REC data with intelligence gathered directly from Signet's own candidate panels, employer surveys, and Connect roundtables.

The UK Labour Market in Q4

Unemployment climbed to 5.2%, vacancies have flatlined at 726,000, and hiring has become more selective. We explain what this means for your next search.

South England Snapshot

With unemployment running ~1% below the national average and the Temporary Vacancies Index outperforming the UK benchmark, the South needs its own strategy. We show you the numbers.

Key Themes from Signet Connect

Straight from our CPO, NED, and Executive roundtables: what leaders are saying about resilience, strategy clarity, capability gaps, and risk governance.
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