Vacancysoft & APSCo North Regional Labour Market Trends Report | October 2026

The North of England’s professional labour market continues to move forward in 2026, but the shape of that growth is changing. Vacancies across the region are forecast to rise by 6.6%, with the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber all recording similar headline growth. What stands out, however, is the increasing importance of technology and commercial hiring.

Technology vacancies are rising strongly across all three regions, while corporate sales is also one of the fastest-growing professional functions. At the same time, sectors that played a larger role in previous phases of the recovery, including construction and retail, are losing momentum. This points to a labour market becoming more selective and more closely aligned with digital investment, specialist services and new areas of regional growth.