Why Temp and Contract Talent Are Your Secret Weapon in 2026

As we move further into 2026, you might be feeling like your organisation is facing a recruitment landscape that’s marked by rapid change and a bunch of uncertainty. Typically, permanent recruitment is the go-to, but what it can lack is the agility that businesses need at the moment to respond to the current market fluctuations we’re seeing. Temporary and contract hires can provide you with a powerful alternative; using interim talent can give you flexibility and control over the costs typically associated with hiring. They can also provide you with access to specialist skills that you might need to get through a specific project, or through a period of change in your organisation.

 

Key Takeaways

Temporary and contract talent give businesses greater flexibility in an uncertain recruitment market. Interim hires allow organisations to access specialist skills quickly without long-term cost commitments. Using temp and contract workers helps manage risk, control costs, and maintain business continuity. Flexible hiring models are increasingly popular as permanent recruitment slows. Interim hiring is a practical way to future-proof your workforce heading into 2026

 

Top 5 Reasons to Choose Interim and Contract Talent

1. Instant Flexibility: Scale your workforce up or down in line with real-time business needs.
2. Specialist Expertise: Access niche skills exactly when projects demand them.
3. Cost Efficiency: Avoid long-term financial commitments and reduce hiring risks.
4. Faster Hiring: Get talent onboard quickly without lengthy recruitment cycles.
5. Business Continuity: Maintain momentum and innovation even amid market uncertainty.

 

Flexibility That Matches Your Business Cycles

Maybe you’re managing a season peak (year-end is coming whether we like it or not!). Perhaps you’re ramping up for a short-term project, or you’re trialling a new business area. Whatever it is, temp and contract workers can offer the option to adjust your workforce precisely when you need to. This kind of flexibility can help avoid overstaffing during slower periods, which can drain budgets, and stop you needing to make sudden layoffs, which isn’t good for anyone’s morale.

According to The Office for National Statistics figures, the number of temporary workers in the UK increased by 6.2 percent year‑on‑year in mid‑2025, while contract roles accounted for 5.5 percent of total employment, showing continued demand for flexible labour even as permanent hiring cools. 

 

Access The Specialist Skills You Need – Fast

Sometimes your permanent team might not have the exact expertise required for a project – maybe there’s new technology to implement, or you’re navigating a complex compliance change. Bringing in a temporary team member for that period lets you add targeted skills to your team, and that talent can typically step in quickly without the delays or costs of permanent recruitment. We recently worked with a PE-backed property business to hire two contractors as support during a merger. Their Financial Controller told us:

"Bringing in specialist contract professionals has been a game-changer for us. They've deliver the expertise we need exactly when we need it, helping us hit critical deadlines without the overhead of permanent hires. It’s a flexible approach that’s boosted our project success and kept costs under control."

This kind of approach allows your organisation to stay competitive and meet any key deadlines without compromising on quality.

 

Cost Control and Reduced Risks

In an ideal world, permanent staff would be the solution. Every team benefits from having people who know how the organisation works, and understands the long term goals of the business. On the other hand, permanent staff typically come with long-term financial commitments – salaries, pensions, benefits – and potential redundancy costs if things don’t go as planned. Interim talent can help minimise these risks, by providing flexibility, as well as the option to assess candidate fit and performance before considering a permanent offer.

Data collated by KPMG and REC from late 2025 noted that temp billings expanded for the first time in 16 months while permanent placements saw some slowing, reinforcing that flexible work is gaining relative traction in a cautious market. 

 

Support Business Continuity and Innovation

Contract talent can be exactly what a business needs to generate fresh ideas and inject some innovation. By bringing in professionals with diverse backgrounds, you’ll help keep your team adaptable and forward-thinking, and this is critical in a business world that’s constantly evolving.

 

Manage Uncertainty with Confidence

Economic uncertainty, changes in regulation and the volatility of the current market are all things that are making permanent hiring a bigger gamble than it has been in the past. The buffer you can get from temporary and contract staffing can enable your organisation to respond to change quickly and confidently, ensuring you’re protecting your bottom line.

 

Consider Your Interim Options

If your hiring strategy still relies heavily on permanent recruitment, now could be a great time to consider the benefits you could get from temporary or contract talent. Have a look at our tips below on getting started.

 

How to Get Started with Interim Hiring

1. Assess Your Needs: Identify projects or periods where flexibility or specialist skills would add the most value.

2. Partner with Experts: Work with a recruitment agency experienced in interim talent to access vetted candidates fast.

3. Define Clear Objectives: Set clear expectations and deliverables for your interim workers to ensure success.

4. Communicate Transparently: Keep internal teams informed about interim roles to ensure smooth integration.

5. Evaluate and Adapt: Use the interim period to assess talent fit and refine your workforce strategy accordingly.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is interim or contract hiring?

A: Interim or contract hiring involves bringing in professionals for a fixed period or specific project rather than employing them permanently.

Q: When should businesses use temporary or contract talent?

A: Temporary and contract hires are ideal during periods of change, peak workloads, transformation projects, or when specialist expertise is required quickly.

Q: Is interim hiring more cost effective than permanent recruitment?

A: In many cases, yes. Interim hiring avoids long-term commitments such as pensions, benefits, and redundancy costs, while providing flexibility.

Q: Does using contract talent impact team morale?

A: When communicated clearly, interim hires often support permanent teams by reducing workload pressure and bringing in expertise.

Q: How quickly can interim roles be filled?

A: Interim and contract roles are typically filled faster than permanent positions, especially when working with specialist recruitment partners.

Q: Can interim roles lead to permanent hires?

A: Yes. Many organisations use interim roles as a way to assess performance and fit before making a permanent offer.

 

At Sewell Wallis, we specialise in connecting businesses like yours with skilled temporary and contract professionals tailored to your unique challenges and goals. Reach out to our team to discuss how we can support your 2026 hiring strategy with flexible talent solutions.