European Hiring Market Update: What We’re Seeing in Q1 2026 

Hiring across Europe has varied at the start of 2026, with conditions differing by country and sector. Some markets are beginning to pick up while others remain cautious. Across the region, businesses are hiring more carefully and focusing on roles that meet clear business needs. 

Candidate Demand Returns Across Europe  

After a cautious period through 2024 and much of 2025, stronger candidates are being approached more actively again, often by multiple organisations at once. In commercial and business-critical roles in particular, candidates are starting to have more leverage in the market. For clients, the message is simple. Companies that move slowly are losing candidates. The speed of the hiring process is starting to matter again, not just compensation. Organisations that are still operating with the slower processes of the past two years will need to adjust quickly. 

Headcount Cuts and the Talent Shortage  

Many businesses spent the past 18 to 24 months reducing headcount to protect margins. As activity begins to pick up again and revenue pipelines reopen, some organisations are finding they no longer have the capacity to meet demand. Projects that were paused are being restarted, but teams are often smaller than before. The result is increasing pressure on existing staff, who are already stretched while businesses try to hire quickly enough to support growth. 

The shortage of experienced talent that existed before the redundancies of 2024 and 2025 has not gone away. Strong candidates remain difficult to secure and specialist revenue-generating roles are still in short supply. In many cases, success now depends less on salary and more on the strength of the opportunity and the speed of the hiring process. 

Hiring Trends in France and Germany  

Across France and Germany, hiring has remained steady at the start of 2026. Most of the roles being filled are senior positions, where organisations are looking for people who can make an immediate contribution. Candidates who bring a mix of skills across public affairs, media relations, digital and data are particularly sought after, while candidates with broader generalist backgrounds are finding the market more challenging. 

One clear trend is that many international agencies with offices in Paris, Munich, Frankfurt and Berlin have been relying on the UK market to support their wider European performance. This reflects the UK’s continued importance as a major commercial centre for pan-European communications businesses. 

Lower candidate mobility is also affecting the market. Many professionals are prioritising security and are less willing to move roles, which is slowing hiring processes and extending negotiations at senior level. 

Public Affairs Hiring in Brussels  

The public affairs market in Brussels tells a different story. There is a steady flow of roles across EU affairs and public affairs, with strong demand for senior and specialist talent. With hiring remaining active across corporates, trade associations and consultancies. 

In Brussels, the issue is not a lack of roles but the level of competition for them. The candidate pool is experienced and well established, which makes hiring processes competitive and selective. Organisations recruiting in this market need to be clear about what they are offering and why the opportunity stands out. 

European Hiring Outlook for 2026  

The outlook for the next year or two is generally positive. After two cautious years, many businesses are starting to hire again as activity picks up. One area to watch is France, where the fragmented political landscape ahead of the next presidential election could affect business confidence and slow larger hiring decisions as the year progresses. 

For businesses hiring across Europe, the message is straightforward. Be clear about what you need, move quickly and invest in senior talent that can make an immediate contribution. Competition for the strongest candidates is already increasing. 

Whether you are hiring senior communications or public affairs talent across Europe, or considering your next move in the market, our team would be delighted to support you. We have expertise across France, Germany, Brussels and the UK, and work with businesses that need to move quickly and secure the right people in a market where strong candidates do not stay available for long.

Hanson Search is a globally recognised, award-winning talent advisory and headhunting consultancy. Our expertise lies in building successful ventures worldwide through our recruitment, interim and executive search in communications, sustainability, public affairs and policy, digital marketing and sales. To speak to one of our European team, get in touch here.