The Shape of Contracting in 2025
So, contract workers are a big deal when it comes to the UK world of work.
Contract workers within STEM occupations varies significantly; for example, around 11% of IT & Digital professionals worked on a contract basis, compared to 38% of Skilled Trades professionals.
Click 'read more' below for a detailed breakdown of key occupational groups!
Contractors continue to deliver strategically critical work across STEM disciplines often on shorter, outcome-focused engagements. On average, a contract assignment lasts 22 weeks*, compared to an estimated 4-year average tenure for permanent roles.**
As a result, contract completions represent a major driver of job-to-job movement in the UK labour market. In fact, quarterly volumes of job changes are due to contract or temporary assignment endings (classified by ONS as “Other”) often matching or exceeding those moving from permanent employment
*(Source: REC 2024 RISR) **(Source: ONS)