The latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey (MEOS) reveals strong hiring intentions from UK employers, with the UK now ranking 4th globally for hiring outlook.
The headline
- UK Net Employment Outlook: +37
- +10 points quarter-on-quarter
- +18 points year-on-year
- 37% of businesses plan to hire in Q3
What's driving demand?
Businesses aren't just optimistic - they're recognising a clear need for talent.
- 49% plan to increase staffing
- Growth is spread across 8 of 9 sectors
- Information (46%) and Construction & Real Estate (43%) are leading the way, while Public Sector, Health & Social Services (29%) and Hospitality (12%) are lagging behind.
Michael Stull, UK Managing Director, ManpowerGroup UK says: "UK businesses are realising the need for people. Uncertainty has dominated the UK economy and job market for months, but that is not sustainable for businesses, employees or the consumer. That's why we are seeing the needle shifting in terms of a willingness to hire.
"Although there is a willingness to hire, the picture is not clear cut. We know that hiring will not be on a mass scale - instead we expect many businesses to hire in single figures - and we also anticipate that businesses will be recruiting for roles which they've delayed filling."
Where is growth happening?
Momentum is strongest outside London.
- North-West: 48% outlook (highest in the UK)
- North-East: 46%
- Northern Ireland: 45%
- London trails at 32%
- Wales: sharpest quarter-on-quarter improvement, rising 21 points to 29%
Who's hiring - and who they want
Mid-sized organisations are leading recruitment activity, but hiring intent spans all business sizes.
Critically, demand isn't limited to senior roles:
- 47% hiring entry-level talent
- 39% hiring individual contributors
- 30% hiring junior managers
Stull concludes: "It is well reported that the UK has a deep-rooted youth unemployment issue, which cannot be solved overnight. It will require fundamental change across all parts of the jobs ecosystem. However, I am encouraged to see that nearly half of those surveyed plan to recruit entry-level roles. This is a step - albeit small - in the right direction."
Get the full picture
The full MEOS report breaks down:
- Sector-by-sector hiring trends
- Regional insights
- Talent demand by role and seniority
- Hiring intentions by business size
