Iconic Resourcing | HR Market Insights – Q2 2025
Market Overview: A Mixed Quarter for HR Recruitment
Q2 has been a cautious period for HR recruitment across Scotland. Permanent hiring has slowed, processes are taking longer, and employers are showing increased restraint. Economic pressures continue to influence decisions, with many organisations leaning towards flexible staffing rather than committing to permanent roles.
Key Trends
Permanent Market
- Recruitment remains selective, with fewer roles advertised than earlier in the year.
- Entry-level HR roles have been particularly affected, with a 30% drop in advertised graduate positions year-on-year.
- In transactional HR, candidates are expressing frustration at the lack of engaging opportunities. Employers are finding it harder to attract top talent, which highlights the need for stronger messaging around impact, career progression, and purpose.
Temporary & Interim Market
- There’s growing demand for interim HR professionals, especially for project-led work in transformation, compliance, and organisational change.
- National data shows contract recruitment is on the rise, while permanent hiring continues to slow.
- Interim roles are becoming more specialist, with a focus on areas like M&A, employee engagement, and ER, rather than generalist cover.
Skills & Development
- L&D teams are under budget pressure, but there’s still momentum around upskilling—particularly in areas like data literacy and digital transformation.
- While technology continues to influence HR, the emphasis remains on human skills: communication, adaptability, and strategic thinking.
What We’ve Been Up To
L&D Insights Session
Anthony hosted a session exploring current trends in learning and development. The discussion focused on how organisations can build meaningful development strategies.
Key Takeaways:
- Define Leadership Before Development: Leadership should be rooted in culture—clarify the purpose before designing programmes.
- Succession Planning Requires Transparency: Honest conversations help individuals grow, whether internally or externally.
- Technology as a Support Tool: It can enhance efficiency, but human creativity and empathy remain central.
- Human Skills Will Future-Proof Teams: Relationship-building, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence are increasingly valuable.
- Balance Experience with Fresh Thinking: Innovation comes from blending traditional expertise with new perspectives.
CIPD Mid Scotland Webinar
Anthony joined the Aspiring Careers webinar, offering practical advice on navigating the competitive HR job market and securing your next opportunity.
Looking Ahead
The permanent HR market is likely to remain cautious into Q3, but interim and contract hiring is gaining momentum. Organisations are prioritising agility and specialist expertise, particularly in transformation, compliance, and digital capability.
For employers, the message is clear: roles need to offer more than just responsibilities. Candidates are looking for purpose, flexibility, and growth. Those who adapt their approach will be best placed to attract and retain the right people.