Job-Hugging…is it the full picture?

January 2026

I came across a phrase recenty that stopped me in my tracks: “job-hugging.”
People staying put because moving feels too risky.

It neatly captures the mood of the UK jobs market if you only read the headlines.

But it’s not the full story — and it’s not the one I see every day.

In my conversations with businesses, I’m not hearing resignation. I’m hearing realism — and, in many cases, quiet confidence.

The businesses feeling strongest right now tend to be:
•⁠ ⁠Focused
•⁠ ⁠Niche or specialist
•⁠ ⁠Clear on where they win
•⁠ ⁠Prepared to work hard and commit

They’re not waiting for conditions to be perfect. They’re making decisions, executing well, and staying flexible as the market evolves. In my experience, that’s how you make your own luck.

That’s why I don’t buy the idea that recruitment is heading for a cliff edge.

General volume may move up and down, but specialist and niche recruiters will continue to grow. When hiring becomes harder and more considered, expertise matters more, not less.

Of course, rising costs and changes like the Employment Rights Bill have caused some employers to pause and take stock. That’s understandable. But clarity — even when it’s challenging — is ultimately better than uncertainty, and it allows confidence to return.

Job-hugging might be the mood music for some.
But focused businesses with clear strategies — and the willingness to graft — will still create opportunity.

My take is that the market is changing, as it always has. It isn’t disappearing.

What’s the picture you’re seeing — or feeling — in your part of the market right now?