Contractors have become a bigger part of the engineering & manufacturing workforce.

Our latest data shows:

• 58% of businesses are using contractors

• 20% have increased usage in 2026

The direction of travel is clear, but the real question is, are contractors helping your business move faster… or creating more complexity behind the scenes?

Used effectively, contractors can provide:

• Specialist skills when you need them

• Flexibility during peaks in demand

• Support for projects, deadlines and skills gaps

But they can also create challenges around:

• Finding the right people quickly

• Managing compliance and HMRC obligations

• Controlling costs and administration

• Maintaining visibility across your workforce

Created from insights gathered from our clients and the wider engineering & manufacturing community, our Contractor Market Snapshot explores the evolving role of contractors, the challenges businesses face, and how employers can build a more agile workforce strategy.