Contract pipeline is off to a strong start in 2026, with jobs up 6.1% year-over-year. Although CV sends rose slightly this month, they’re down 3% per job annually, perhaps reflecting the unexpected vacancy boost. Fill rate did decline this month, but the long-term trend continues its slow but steady upward trajectory. All of this signals a promising start to the year for contract.
Permanent placements saw an unexpected 5% drop in jobs year-over-year, after the last six months showed overall 2% annual growth. With recruiter effort also down, there appears to be less momentum to capitalise on the opportunities presented by the new year. Fill rate is up, suggesting that vital seats are being filled, but job activity has yet to show signs of recovery. Job growth coupled with a drop in coverage usually indicates an optimistic market, and contract roles often respond more quickly to this confidence. Hopefully perm begins to follow suit in the remainder of Q1.
