New findings from global talent solutions provider Robert Walters show that 2025 could see a spike in hiring for contract talent.

Chris Eldridge, CEO of Robert Walters UK & Ireland:

“For many employers, the short-term nature of contract roles allows for greater agility and quicker response times to market changes and business needs. Simultaneously, it means they can hire the necessary skillsets to finish projects without adding to their permanent headcount at a time when many are still considering cutbacks.”

Gig economy set to influence

Additionally, UK employers state they'd also consider contract hires to offset permanent headcount freezes (20%) and to plug skills gaps (22%).

Indeed, with recent announcements of further headcount cuts by companies including Sainsburys and Meta, pressure mounts on UK employers to pivot their hiring strategies to continue fulfilling business critical roles. A quarter of UK employers agree that the gig economy could enhance workforce flexibility this year.

Contract roles offer professionals attractive alternatives

Similarly, a third of permanent professionals say they’d consider taking on a contract position this year to gain more flexibility at work.

Indeed, almost a quarter (24%) state that tighter company budgets have led to more pressure being placed on their workload and output by company leaders. Not only that, with continued cost cutting incentives, as well as bonuses or pay rises lacking for many this year – a further 30% of perm professionals state being more attracted to contract roles due to a higher earning potential.

Nonetheless – challenges remain with considerable uncertainty around take home pay as companies continue to work out the cost of National Insurance hikes and the transition of PAYE responsibilities to umbrella companies instead of independent contractors.

Chris comments:

“Contracting is typically viewed as a riskier option because of the absence of job security but recent high-profile layoffs and unsatisfactory bonus seasons have prompted professionals to reconsider this."

“Professionals who take on contract roles quickly grow skills and experience which can align them to better levels of flexibility or pay in subsequent positions – having in-demand skills and varied experience is a crucial bargaining tool when negotiating more from future employers.”

Change on the cards

Over recent years many ‘career contractors’ made the move to permanent roles for increased job stability – with tax hikes and continued economic instability this may be set to change.

Already, job listings for contract roles calling for skills in cybersecurity (+22%), JavaScript (+6%) and web development (+5%) have shown increases on last year.

More broadly, further data from Robert Walters shows that industry-specific skills (38%) and soft skills (31%) will remain the most vital skillsets for contractors in 2025.

Chris comments:

“The dexterity of a flexible, skilled workforce can really come into play for many employers this year – particularly in digital and tech fields."

“It is especially critical for leaders to ensure their tech infrastructure keeps up with the rate of change – temporary talent has the agility to help ensure company operations are secure from constantly evolving cyber-attacks and risks.”

Key areas for contractors

Research from Grant Thornton found that 93% of finance leaders in the UK are planning digital transformation projects for their finance function in the next 12 months – this could be a key area for contractors.

Indeed, job ads for contract and temporary staff within financial services are seeing year-on-year growth especially for skills like stakeholder management (+59%) and operational risk management (+18%).

Chris concludes:

“As more businesses now understand that financial benefits are more significant outside of IR35, we have seen an increase in consultancy work as businesses continue to look at hiring for Tech projects, like digital transformations, that require specialist skill sets."

“Whereas for professionals, contract roles offer the opportunity to pick up key skills and experience at a faster pace – enabling them to futureproof their careers in an increasingly competitive market.”