Economic pressure has accelerated the shift toward flexible hiring models, with many employers anticipating increased use of temporary and contract professionals.

In our view, this reflects a pragmatic approach to managing workload surges without committing to permanent headcount.

For example, we know of professional service firms who have increasingly turned to interim audit specialists to manage workloads during peak periods, as well as corporate tax teams in the pharmaceutical and energy sectors who have engaged contractors to support regulatory and compliance initiatives.

We believe flexible and hybrid contract arrangements will remain a critical tool in 2026 for accessing scarce expertise quickly and cost-effectively.