What the Latest UK Jobs Data Means for Science, Engineering & Manufacturing

The latest UK Report on Jobs January 2026 from KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), compiled by S&P Global from data from 400 Recruitment Companies, paints a cautious picture of the UK jobs market at the end of 2025.

Permanent placements have fallen at the sharpest rate since August. Temporary billings have dipped again. Vacancies are down, while candidate availability is rising. In a more challenging job market what is the best strategy as a job seeker?

Understand the Market You’re Walking Into

Recent data from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and KPMG highlights a clear shift in conditions. Permanent placements have now declined for 39 consecutive months. Redundancies in parts of the economy have increased overall candidate supply. Employers remain cautious, balancing hiring decisions against cost pressures and economic uncertainty. As a result, many are leaning more heavily on temporary and contract models. At the same time, salary inflation is edging upwards again — although still below long-term historic averages. In practical terms, this means more candidates are competing for fewer vacancies.

So how do you maximise your chances as a professional in Science, Engineering or Manufacturing?

Be Precise and expand on your expertise

In competitive markets, hiring managers look for reduced risk.

Instead of saying:

 “Experienced Mechanical Engineer with broad experience”

Say:

“Mechanical Design Engineer with 8 years’ experience in injection mould tooling, SolidWorks and DFM optimisation within regulated manufacturing environments.”

Specific always beats generic. Back up your claims with evidence.

For science and pharma professionals, clearly outline your regulatory exposure (such as Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, ISO 13485, GMP), validation and quality systems experience, the equipment and technologies you’ve used, and the scale of projects or budgets you’ve handled.

For engineering and manufacturing candidates, demonstrate measurable impact. Highlight process improvements, downtime reductions, Lean or Six Sigma exposure, automation or PLC systems worked on, and production volumes or plant size. Quantify everything where possible. Bring your capabilities to life with real examples.

Be Open to Temporary and Contract Roles

Current market data shows firms are flexing through temporary hiring. That is not a downgrade.

In science and engineering sectors, contract roles can pay competitively, lead to permanent offers, and give exposure to high-growth technical projects or new systems. In some cases, they even provide a stepping stone into consultancy or self-employment.

With temporary pay returning to growth, this can be a strategic career move rather than a stopgap.

Target Regions Showing Resilience

Some regions are performing better than others. The Midlands, for example, has recorded growth in both temporary and permanent placements, supported by strengths in advanced engineering, automotive supply chains, precision manufacturing and specialist electronics. These national trends can be seen locally, with hubs of manufacturing in Whitstable, Kent and Science company dense areas such as Dartford seeing a significant rise in role. Where as some rural areas experiencing company shut downs and redundancies.

If you are geographically flexible, widen your search radius. Even signalling openness to relocation or hybrid working on your CV can improve your prospects, although remote roles have reduced significantly across engineering and manufacturing.

Move Faster Than the Market

When vacancies tighten, speed matters.

Apply early — ideally within 48 hours of a role being posted. Keep your CV up to date and ready to send. While tailoring is occasionally (and we stress occasionally) beneficial, clarity and precision are often more valuable than over-editing. Back up your statements with evidence, avoid padding and "management speak" and most of all try and make your CV engaging to your chosen audience. If for example you are a product designer, highlight your design skills, however if you are a quality engineer you need to expand on your ISO knowledge and audit experience.

Build strong relationships with recruiters and respond promptly to companies. Be interview-ready at short notice and flexible where possible. Hiring managers may be cautious, but once they decide to move, they want momentum and certainty.

Demonstrate Commercial Awareness

Businesses remain under cost pressure. Candidates who understand this stand out.

Show how you have reduced costs, improved productivity, optimised processes, increased yield, reduced waste or delivered automation return on investment. If you can clearly demonstrate how you protect margins or improve efficiency, you position yourself as an asset and not a cost.

Refine Your Interview and Salary Strategy

Salary inflation has improved, but remains below historic highs. Preparation is essential.

Research realistic market rates and justify your expectations with measurable evidence. Be commercially aware without undervaluing yourself. Consider the full package and wider picture, bonus, pension, training, flexibility and progression.

Discuss expectations openly with a recruiter at the beginning of the process to avoid surprises for all parties later. Position yourself as an investment. Engaged candidates who demonstrate commitment and tenacity are far more likely to secure stronger offers.

Optimise Your Online Presence

With more candidates in the market, employers are reviewing online profiles more closely.

Your LinkedIn profile should include sector-specific keywords, list systems and standards, and clearly demonstrate measurable achievements. Use a strong headline rather than simply “Open to Work,” and ensure your image and content are professional. Recruiters will often review wider social media as part of informal referencing.

Think like a search engine: would you find yourself, would you recruit yourself?

Partner With a Specialist Recruiter

In a softer market, representation matters.

Specialist recruiters in science, engineering and manufacturing offer more than job alerts. They understand niche skill shortages, know which companies are preparing to hire, and can position your CV effectively. They provide realistic salary benchmarking, interview coaching and negotiation support.

When vacancy numbers fall, access becomes more important than the volume of jobs found on jobs boards. Partnering with a specialist such as Senex Recruitment can make the difference between being shortlisted — and being overlooked.

Final Thoughts: A Selective Market, Not a Dead One

Yes, permanent placements have softened.
Yes, vacancy numbers are below previous peaks.

However, engineering demand remains comparatively resilient. Temporary hiring is active. Salaries are stabilising. Certain technical disciplines still face acute skill shortages, and regional variations continue both nationally and locally here in the South and South East UK.

Prepared candidates win in cautious markets.

If you work in science, engineering or manufacturing in the UK, now is the time to tighten your CV, broaden your flexibility, move decisively and demonstrate genuine commercial value.

The market in 2026 will not mirror 2023–24. Hybrid and WFH expectations are recalibrating, vacancy flow is steady rather than explosive, and many employers are returning to more traditional operational models. The likely trajectory points towards a job market more aligned with pre-pandemic standards — particularly across manufacturing and engineering.

It means the best-prepared professionals will rise to the top.

If you are ready to take a step into the Scientific, Engineering and Manufacturing Market in 2026 Senex Recruitment is here to help. Send us your CV and register your details with our recruitment team and we will start the proactive job search for you.