66% of UK organisations have now adopted skills-based hiring58% of candidates say they are more likely to apply for roles defined by skillsRecruiters play a central role as hiring moves beyond qualifications13 May 2026, London: New research from Michael Page's 2026 Talent Trends report shows a growing focus on certainty and long-term value in hiring is driving a shift towards skills-based hiring in the UK, with specialist recruiters playing a central role in helping organisations move beyond qualifications and credentials to focus on capabilities.The report shows that skills-based hiring is gaining traction across the UK labour market, with 66% of organisations reporting they have now adopted a skills-focused approach. At the same time, 58% of candidates say they are more likely to apply for roles defined by skills, rather than traditional qualifications or career history.Rising employment costs make specialist expertise more valuable than everThis shift is unfolding against a backdrop of rising employment costs, cautious candidate movement, and continued economic and political uncertainty. In an environment where avoiding costly mis-hires has shifted from a business goal to a necessity, organisations are turning to specialist recruiters to assess capability and reduce the risk of hiring missteps. However, while two-thirds of UK organisations have adopted skills-based hiring, one in four (24%) are yet to follow suit – underlining the role recruiters play in helping organisations translate skills-based hiring into practice. AI raises the bar for human judgementAs AI becomes embedded on both sides of the hiring process, employers face another challenge in ensuring long-term hiring value. 67% of hiring managers and an equal proportion of jobseekers now use AI tools: candidates to tailor CVs (36%) and prepare for interviews (27%), and employers to draft job descriptions (29%) and generate interview questions (25%).In reality, this makes distinguishing polished applications from truly high-value hires more difficult. With almost 28% of hiring managers saying they find it difficult to tell if a candidate has used AI in their application, greater emphasis is placed on the candidate relationships, human judgement, and sector knowledge that specialist recruiters bring to the process.Hiring shifts towards skills as traditional credentials lose influenceThese developments are reshaping how organisations assess candidate suitability. While qualifications and career history remain relevant, they are becoming less decisive indicators of performance on their own.Employers cite the top benefits of a skills-based approach as helping identify candidates with the right capabilities (48%), increasing fairness and reducing bias (44%), and making it easier to match candidates to current and future skill needs (42%).As technology continues to reshape the workplace, employers are also placing greater emphasis on demonstrable human capabilities. Communication (44%), adaptability (38%), and interpersonal skills (36%) are among the most valued attributes identified by hiring managers, reflecting a continued focus on human-centred capabilities.However, while the majority of candidates are drawn to skills-based recruitment practices, many are not yet applying this mindset to their own career development. Data from Michael Page shows 61% of candidates continue to rely heavily on traditional signals like job experience on their CV, with only 15% emphasising hard skills*. By contrast, employers place more value on how candidates present their skills (33%) than on their previous career path or education (21%).Doug Rode, Michael Page regional managing director, UK and Ireland, says that: “Organisations and jobseekers are navigating an increasingly complex recruitment landscape. Hiring managers are under immense pressure to find the right candidate – every time – while jobseekers are adapting to processes reshaped by the rapid adoption of AI.“In this environment, a skills-based approach quickly becomes the most effective way to identify long-term value – but it often requires a more consistent and structured approach than many organisations are equipped to implement today. Recruiters play a critical role in bridging that gap – combining market insight, sector expertise, and human judgement to help organisations focus on what really drives performance. Those that take a more deliberate, skills-based approach now – and invest in getting it right – will be best placed to compete for talent and build teams that can deliver over the long term.” To explore more insights from Michael Page's 2026 Talent Trends report, click here.-Ends- About Michael PageMichael Page is one of the world's best-known and most respected recruitment consultancies. We put people into jobs and build careers. We are customer-led, people-powered and insight driven. With operations in 36 countries, Michael Page provides recruitment services and career opportunities at a local, regional, and global level.MethodologyAll figures, unless otherwise stated, are from an online survey conducted by Michael Page and UNLIMITED (now part of Accenture Song).Talent Trends 2026 is a 20-minute, quantitative online survey, conducted by UNLIMITED on behalf of Michael Page between 5th November 2025 and 17th December 2025.A total of 59,820 surveys were completed with candidates of which 9,217 were also clients. This includes 47,727 through Michael Page's database, and a further 12,093 via a research panel partner.Data has been weighted by country to the known proportion of each country based on Michael Page's database.
