Currently, almost a third (32%) of small business owners are looking to invest significantly in their recruitment over the next year, whilst 72% have had business progression delays because of not being able to find the right staff.
The new data, taken from Adobe Express’ extensive hiring study, takes an in-depth look at the current recruitment landscape from both the employer and employee perspectives.
Building an A-Team is essential to driving success within a brand, but what are new workers looking for in a role, what are the biggest challenges employers are facing when hiring and what are the primary motivations for people in different cities and industries to find a new role?
Which factors do business owners think are most important in their new role?
When asking business owners which elements of the job are most important to employees, the majority (67%) think a work-life balance is essential, this is followed by half (50%) thinking a competitive salary is also crucial. 29% nod to flexible working, adding to the importance of the harmony both at work and at home:
| The factors business owners think are most important to employees looking for a new role | Percentage |
| A good work-life balance | 67% |
| Competitive salary | 50% |
| Flexible working arrangements (e.g. remote working, flexible hours) | 29% |
| Competitive compensation and benefits package | 19% |
| Opportunities for professional development and growth | 14% |
| Good company culture | 13% |
What are the current challenges businesses are facing when trying to find new talent?
Having more appeal than larger companies received the most votes, with 36% struggling to compete with salaries, perks and the reputation of a household name. Interestingly, 30% can’t keep up with salary expectations from candidates, with many demanding more to keep up with cost-of-living increases. The right education and skillset has also been an issue for small business owners, with 26% and 19% picking these challenges respectively:
| The biggest challenges business owners are having when trying to find new talent | Percentage |
| Competition from larger companies | 36% |
| Salary expectations of candidates being too high | 30% |
| Lack of qualified candidates | 26% |
| Difficulty in attracting candidates with specific skills | 19% |
| Uncertainty about future business needs | 12% |
| Lengthy recruitment process | 11% |
| Retaining new hires | 10% |
| Cost of recruitment | 10% |
| Difficulty in assessing candidate fit remotely | 9% |
From an employee perspective, below are the primary reasons Brits would look for a new job:
Higher salary (23%) and work-life balance (21%) match the factors employers think would attract new staff, topping the table. However, opportunities for career growth and development (11%) is further up the list for employees with many thinking of a long-term progression plan.
| What is your primary motivation for looking for a new job in 2026? | Percentage |
| Higher salary/better compensation | 23% |
| Better work-life balance | 21% |
| Opportunities for career growth and development | 11% |
| More challenging or interesting work | 10% |
| A more positive or supportive work environment/culture | 5% |
| Better job security | 3% |
| More flexible working arrangements (remote/hybrid) | 3% |
| Ethical or mission-driven company | 3% |
| Seeking a role in a specific industry | 2% |
To help business owners with their working arrangements, employees have given their preferred approach:
Almost half (48%) prefer flexible start and end times to help with work-life balance, as well as hybrid working (45%). Just 19% opted for remote working for more face-to-face interactions:
| What type of flexible working arrangement are you most interested in? | Percentage |
| Flexible start and end times | 48% |
| Hybrid work (a mix of office and remote) | 45% |
| Fully remote work | 19% |
| Compressed workweeks | 16% |
| Work from anywhere including abroad for a set period | 14% |
| Job sharing | 6% |
When it comes to culture, employees prefer the following environment to work in.
Half of workers (50%) expect a focus on employee wellbeing, and 40% prefer open and transparent communication. A supportive structure is vital to 35%, whilst a company of value and ethics is important for 26%. 21% would also like to be involved in a diverse and inclusive workplace.
| What aspects of company culture are most important to you when considering a new employer? | Percentage |
| A focus on employee well-being | 50% |
| Open and transparent communication | 40% |
| A supportive and collaborative environment | 35% |
| Opportunities for social interaction and team building | 31% |
| A clear sense of purpose and mission | 31% |
| Strong ethical standards | 26% |
| A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) | 21% |
| A culture of innovation and continuous improvement | 21% |
Workers from cities across the UK were asked their primary motivation to look for a new role, the highest percentages for each criteria are below:
- Higher salary / better compensation: Belfast (46%)
- More challenging or interesting work: Bristol (44%)
- Better work-life balance: Nottingham (43%)
- Opportunities for career growth and development: Sheffield (25%)
- A more positive or supportive work environment / culture: Leeds (10%)
- Better job security: Leeds (7%)
- More flexible working arrangements: Belfast (8%)
- Ethical or mission-driven company: Manchester (11%)
- Seeking a role in a specific industry: Newcastle (11%)
Workers from industries across the UK were asked their primary motivation to look for a new role, the highest percentages for each criteria are below:
- Higher salary / better compensation: Law / Environment and agriculture (50%)
- More challenging or interesting work: Leisure, sport and tourism (31%)
- Better work-life balance: Law enforcement and security (40%)
- Opportunities for career growth and development: Science and pharmaceuticals (33%)
- A more positive or supportive work environment / culture: Law enforcement and security (20%)
- Better job security: Creative arts and design (9%)
- More flexible working arrangements: Law (13%)
- Ethical or mission-driven company: Marketing, advertising and PR (33%)
- Seeking a role in a specific industry: Media and internet (33%)
For tips on how to retain the best talent, as well as further data on hiring in the UK, visit here: https://www.adobe.com/uk/express/learn/blog/hiring-guide
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