• Publish Date: Posted about 2 hours ago
• Author:by Dena Hyett

Talent Trends Report Feb 2026 | Hiring Insights

​Hiring is shifting again but it’s not a rebound. It’s a re-balance. The latest REC/KPMG signals suggest employers are moving from hesitation to action, selectively. Contract hiring is beginning to move first, permanent hiring is stabilising rather than surging, and pay pressure is returning in scarce skill pockets.For organisations hiring across Insurance, Tech & Change, and Legal, this is where the detail matters: the market is not uniformly “better” or “worse” - it’s uneven. The advantage comes from knowing where to move quickly, where to stay flexible, and how to keep control as contractor hiring rises.Download the February 2026 Talent Trends ReportWhat’s inside the February 2026 Talent Trends ReportA practical report for leaders and hiring teams who want clarity — not noise.The key movements shaping the market right now (perm stabilising, contractors moving first)Where pay pressure is building — and what that means for offer strategyWhy “more candidates” doesn’t necessarily mean easier hiring in specialist rolesWhat this re-balance means for workforce planning in 2026​Two tools you can use immediatelySignals Dashboard: A quick way to track the indicators that show whether you should accelerate hiring, stay flexible, or tighten governance.Decision Matrix: Perm vs Contract vs Redesign: A simple framework to choose the right hiring route role-by-role based on urgency, scarcity and compliance risk.Read the report in fullWho this report is forThis report will be most useful if you’re:hiring in Insurance, Technology, Transformation/Change or Legalseeing uneven demand across functions (some roles urgent, others paused)using more contractors to protect delivery timelinesfeeling salary/rate pressure in specialist areaslooking to tighten governance around onboarding, IR35, or supplier controlHiring across permanent and contractor roles?Gerrard White is a specialist recruiter across Insurance, Tech & Change, and Legal — supporting both permanent and contractor hiring.As contractor activity increases, we help clients move quickly with compliance-first contractor engagement, using IR35-aware processes and audit-ready documentation to reduce risk while maintaining pace.Want to chat through your hiring roles?A quick conversation can help you sense-check priorities, timelines and risks before the market tightens.Speak to the Gerrard White Team01892 553355 | info@gerrardwhite.comFAQsIs the report free to download?Yes - download the February Talent Trends Report directly from this page.Do you support contractor hiring as well as permanent?Yes - we recruit for both permanent and contractor roles across our specialist markets.Can you advise on IR35 considerations?We support contractor hiring with IR35-aware processes and audit-ready documentation to help reduce compliance risk.