Insights

Scotland’s professional labour market is gaining momentum in 2026. Vacancies are forecast to rise by 9.2% year on year, with hiring activity during the first seven months already exceeding 2025 levels. This performance is particularly encouraging against a backdrop of continued economic uncertainty.

Engineering and technology are key drivers of growth, supported by investment in renewable energy, infrastructure, artificial intelligence and digital capability. Demand is also increasing across the Industrials and Technology, Media and Telecommunications sectors. Major employers, including Iberdrola, BAE Systems and AECOM, are expanding recruitment as long-term investment programmes create new workforce requirements.

However, this growth is intensifying existing talent challenges. Skills shortages remain a significant constraint, particularly across engineering, infrastructure and technology, where employers are competing for increasingly specialised expertise. Developing the skills needed to support future investment will be critical to Scotland’s continued growth.

This latest report from APSCo and Vacancysoft offers valuable insight into the changing professional labour market across Scotland. It identifies the sectors, functions and employers driving recruitment, while highlighting the areas where skills pressures are likely to become increasingly significant.