With the new year underway, we would like to wish all our clients, candidates and partners a very happy New Year. We hope you had the chance to slow down over the festive period, spend time with loved ones and return feeling refreshed and ready for 2026!
Here at 24-7 Staffing, our team is settling back into the office, reconnecting with clients and candidates, and reflecting on the lessons of the past year. January always brings a sense of renewed focus and opportunity, and this year is no different. It is a natural moment to take stock of where the market stands and what lies ahead for recruitment.
Recent years have reshaped how businesses hire, how candidates approach work, and how recruiters add value in an ever-changing economic landscape. Many of the themes we explored throughout 2025, from keeping recruitment human to navigating cost pressures and shifting workforce expectations, remain just as relevant this year.
A changed economic backdrop
This year follows a year of subdued economic growth and cautious business confidence. While inflation has eased compared to previous years, employers are still operating under higher costs and tighter budgets, which leads to a more considered approach to hiring.
Unemployment rose gradually last year, easing some of the severe candidate shortages seen previously, but skills gaps remain. The market has not simplified. Instead, hiring has become more selective:
- Fewer speculative hires
- Longer decision-making timelines
- Greater focus on value and return on investment
For recruiters and employers, this points towards smarter and more strategic hiring rather than volume recruitment.
From hiring fast to hiring right
One of the most notable shifts over the past year has been a move away from rapid expansion towards more deliberate and thoughtful hiring, increasingly focusing on:
- Candidates who can add immediate value
- Transferable skills and adaptability
- Cultural fit and long-term potential
Temporary and contract staffing continues to play an important role, allowing businesses to remain flexible while managing uncertainty. Permanent roles still matter, but they appear to be more carefully planned and often supported by deeper market insight.
Strong recruitment partnerships are therefore more important than ever, providing guidance, realism and clarity rather than simply filling vacancies.
Technology, AI and the human factor
Throughout 2025, the use of AI within recruitment continued to grow rapidly, from automation of processes to early-stage candidate screening. It’s clear that this technology is now an established part of recruitment, but it has not replaced the human factor.
Instead, it has reinforced a key principle: recruitment works best when technology supports human judgment. Clients and candidates continue to value:
- Honest and transparent conversations
- Market and industry knowledge
- Relationship led recruitment
- Clear and consistent communication
Technology can improve speed and efficiency, but trust, understanding and experience remain human strengths that can’t be replaced.
Skills, expectations and the modern workforce
Skills shortages continue to influence hiring decisions, particularly in specialist, technical and operational roles. Employers are becoming more open to:
- Upskilling and retraining existing talent
- Non-traditional career paths
- Candidates who demonstrate learning potential rather than a perfect CV
We see this reflected within our own business. In a recent blog, we shared the stories of Luke and Chelsea, who joined 24-7 Staffing without prior recruitment experience and have since successfully passed their probation. Their progress highlights a growing reality in today’s market: attitude, adaptability and willingness to learn can be just as valuable as industry experience.
Candidate expectations have also evolved. Flexibility, progression and purpose now sit alongside salary as key factors when considering a role. People want clarity on not just what a job involves, but where it can take them.
2026 and beyond
The year ahead will bring further change, shaped by new technology, evolving expectations from candidates and continued pressure on key skills. In this environment, recruitment agencies like ours will play a vital role in helping businesses and candidates navigate the market with confidence.
If you’d like tailored support with your recruitment, underpinned by decades of local market knowledge and expertise, please get in touch!
