Commenting on the latest survey results, Jon Holt, Group Chief Executive and UK Senior Partner KPMG, said:

“Economic uncertainty continues to weigh heavy on business, but further stabilisation in the jobs market last month indicates that a Budget that builds business confidence, could be a catalyst for renewed hiring.

“We know from our recent CEO Outlook that chief execs remain upbeat about their growth prospects, and the rise in temporary hiring indicates that opportunities are increasing – there just aren’t enough strong signals currently for bosses to commit to building their workforce on a more permanent basis. As we expect both interest rates and inflation to fall further in 2026, we may finally see hiring start to grow more steadily.”