Research from Robert Half finds 50% of U.K. workers believe their performance and niche skills are keeping them empowered within a tight labour market.
By Maggie Mancini
U.K. workers continue to be optimistic about their job prospects despite the economic climate, but some regions are much more confident than overs, according to recent data from Robert Half. According to the study, 55% of the workforce remain confident about their job security over the next six months, despite economic headwinds.
When asked why, 50% cited their performance and niche skills, while 20% indicated that their industry is growing or in demand, suggesting that ongoing skills shortages and a tight labour market continue to put the power in the hands of highly skilled workers.
While the data reveals that worker confidence is high across the board, the statistics also highlighted regional divides when it comes to worker sentiment. In the London region, 64% of employees are confident in their job security. This falls to 56% in the North West and 46% in the West Midlands.
“The professional services sector continues to experience strong demand for talent, boosting worker confidence despite conflicting economic headlines,” says Matt Weston, senior managing director of U.K. and Ireland at Robert Half. “The fact that 50% of employees cite their performance and skillset as the main driver for their job security confidence, compared to 20% who mention industry strength, indicates that systemic skills shortages will likely continue shaping a complex labour market in 2025. In this scenario, candidates, particularly in highly skilled professional services, hold the upper hand in the hiring process. Their expertise and in-demand skills give them the power to set expectations, negotiate favourable terms, and choose from multiple opportunities in their career progression. Given confident employees and a tight market, employers must adapt their talent strategies to align with regional workforce sentiments, invest in targeted training programs, and offer competitive compensation packages to stay ahead when attracting skilled professionals.”
