UK Contract Market Resilience in Power & Net Zero
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The latest Hiring Trends report from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo), produced with Bullhorn, highlights trends across the professional staffing sector as businesses navigate market uncertainty.
Permanent hiring softened slightly in November 2025, influenced by the Chancellor’s Budget, with new permanent jobs down 8% month-on-month and 5% year-on-year. Permanent placements dipped 10% month-on-month but remain broadly stable year-on-year, showing confidence in long-term hiring despite short-term fluctuations.
In contrast, the contract market remains resilient. New contract jobs fell 10% month-on-month but grew 14% year-on-year. Contract placements also increased 27% year-on-year, highlighting the growing demand for flexible staffing solutions as companies manage uncertainty while accessing critical skills.
Samantha Hurley, Managing Director at APSCo UK, said: “The latest data highlights the resilience of the contract market, delivering strong year-on-year growth despite short-term fluctuations. This reflects the flexibility businesses need to manage uncertainty while maintaining access to critical skills.”
Andy Ingham, SVP Sales, EMEA & APAC, added: “Contract hiring continues to outperform, with solid year-over-year gains in both jobs and placements, despite minor month-over-month softening.”
James Barker, Senior Recruitment Partner at Astute People, commented: “The contract market in power generation, especially for new-build projects across EfW, Biomass, and CCGT, remains exceptionally buoyant. We see relentless demand for highly specialised contractors—engineers, commissioning leads, and project managers—who can be mobilized quickly. With the UK’s Net Zero targets driving a massive project pipeline, companies rely on contract talent to fill critical skills gaps and meet construction and commissioning deadlines.”
Why Contract Recruitment in Power Generation is Buoyant
Contract hiring growth in the UK’s power generation sector is fueled by political commitment, infrastructure funding, and the immediate, project-based nature of the energy transition.
1. Project Confirmation and Investment Surge
- Renewable Energy Pipeline: Major solar, offshore wind, and battery storage projects, including Sunnica, Gate Burton, and Mallard Pass, add 1.4GW to UK capacity. (GOV.UK link)
- Grid Infrastructure Reform: NESO reforms unlock 132GW of aligned projects, de-risking connections and pushing projects into construction. (Business Green link)
- Nuclear Expansion: Sizewell C and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) create strong demand for nuclear-accredited engineers. Contract recruitment is key for defined phases like commissioning.
2. Strategic Need for Specialist Flexibility
- Commissioning & Mobilization: Contractors are preferred for highly technical, short-term phases (6–18 months) in new-build power stations or large-scale renewables.
- Skills Shortages: The UK’s Net Zero by 2050 target requires up to 725,000 new low-carbon jobs by 2030 (GOV.UK link). Scarce roles like Welders, EC&I Engineers, and Project Managers are filled faster via contract recruitment.
The shift toward large, project-based energy infrastructure aligns perfectly with the agility and specialist expertise that the contract recruitment market provides.