Despite a cautious national picture, Yorkshire’s job market is showing clear signs of resilience and growth, according to the latest KPMG and Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) UK Report on Jobs: North of England, and the reality on the ground suggests an even stronger story for the region.
While the report notes that permanent placements in the North of England continued to soften in September, the decline was the weakest seen in five months, showing that the market is levelling out. Temporary jobs rose for the first time in nearly a year, signalling renewed employer confidence and agility in response to changing market conditions. (GB-North_Jobs_ENG_2510)
But in North and East Yorkshire, that cautious optimism is turning into action.
“We’ve had our busiest year since 2022,” said Kelly Dunn, Director of KD Recruitment. “Across the sectors we serve, investment and confidence are flowing back into the region. Businesses are hiring strategically, not hesitantly, and that’s translating into real opportunities for skilled people.”
Regional Growth and Sector Momentum
While the Report on Jobs highlights stabilisation, recruiters in Yorkshire are seeing faster movement. KD Recruitment reports significant hiring activity across engineering, logistics and supply chain, finance, and professional services, with construction, manufacturing, and digital technology all seeing fresh waves of investment.
The Humber and North Yorkshire areas, in particular, have benefited from ongoing infrastructure and green energy projects, alongside growth in life sciences and healthcare, creating new demand for both permanent and temporary contract talent.
“We’re seeing employers take a long-term view again,” added Kelly. “They’re looking for leaders, planners, and problem-solvers, people who can help shape sustainable growth. That’s a far cry from the reactive hiring of recent years.”
A Market Finding Its Balance
According to the REC, candidate availability remains high, giving businesses the chance to access diverse and experienced talent pools (GB-North_Jobs_ENG_2510)
At the same time, the slower pace of redundancies suggests that the market is beginning to rebalance after a turbulent few years.
With both temporary and permanent job opportunities still plentiful across Yorkshire, local recruiters say the conversation has shifted from uncertainty to opportunity.
“The North and East Yorkshire job markets are quietly outperforming national trends,” Kelly concluded. “We’re building from a strong foundation, and as investment continues, 2026 looks set to be a year of real momentum.”
About KD Recruitment
KD Recruitment is an award-winning recruitment agency based in Scarborough, working across North and East Yorkshire. The firm specialises in professional services, accountancy and finance, sales, marketing, HR, logistics, supply chain, and executive appointments, connecting exceptional people with leading employers across the region.