Graeme's Q1 Market Overview

 23rd Apr 2026

It’s amazing the difference a year makes!!

This time last year was undoubtedly one of the most challenging markets I’d faced in 20 years. It was always going to be a relatively slow start to 2025 with Industry businesses ‘Weathering the Storm’ of the changes to employers' NI and the minimum wage that had been set in the previous year’s budget and various other headwinds faced.

As we moved into 2026 however, we’d already seen signs of improvement with a better Quarter 4 in 2025, the resilience and adaptability of Scottish businesses again shining through and rising to the challenge of the economic hurdles imposed upon us all.

This had a positive impact on the placements I’ve been able to generate, having my best and most productive 6 months at W&A since fully focusing on the regional areas of Scotland (Fife, Central, West Lothian and Tayside). Having this geographical focus is important to me, it’s where I live, and I have found it hugely enjoyable making a local impact. Not only this though, it has allowed me to spend quality time across the country, visiting and interacting with a diverse cross section of Commerce & Industry businesses and the people who work in them or who have been job seeking in those regions.  I am always regularly surprised and impressed by the general resilience and the success of so many of these businesses I work with, and the ingenuity and endeavour shown in adapting to economic change. Getting to better know and understand the candidate population through this geographical focus has also really helped and it has been great to see those placed settling into new roles and making a difference.

As we move through 2026, clearly challenges remain, the ongoing conflict in the middle east affecting almost everyone, but it does feel that we are seeing businesses and people acclimatise to the constant theme of change, building resilience, adaptability and planning in a way that external changes does not always mean that everything needs to be placed on hold. Looking ahead, the market is still showing some good signs of buoyancy and hopefully a quick resolution to some of the challenges we’re all facing at present may just allow for further upturns later in the year. Here’s hoping.