Why 2026 Is the Year of Flexible Hiring

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Permanent hiring ended 2025 on a cautious note, with vacancies holding steady at around 729,000. But beneath the surface, a structural shift is accelerating: employers are increasingly turning to fractional, contract, and project-based roles to stay agile in uncertain conditions. Nearly 40% of tech employers now plan to increase contractor usage to keep pace with rapid digital change.

This shift isn’t limited to external talent. Many organisations are experimenting with internal gig models, offering project work to permanent staff to plug skills gaps quickly. For professionals heading into 2026, flexibility isn’t just an option — it’s becoming the default hiring strategy.

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permanent roles slowing while contract work explodes feels very 2025