The Most In-Demand Temp Roles of 2025 (and What That Means for Agencies)

In a year defined by shifting labour dynamics, temporary recruitment continues to shine as a lifeline for both employers and job seekers. For agency owners, understanding where the demand lies in 2025 isn’t just valuable, it’s essential. Despite broader hiring slowdowns, certain sectors are thriving, offering rich opportunities for agencies ready to adapt and diversify.

Let’s explore the most in-demand temp jobs in the UK this year and what they mean for your agency’s growth strategy.

Hospitality & Education: Consistent, Seasonal, and Profitable

Even in uncertain times, one truth remains, events don’t cancel themselves. Hospitality continues to lead the pack, with chefs, waiters, and festival staff in high demand, particularly during summer months and peak event seasons.

Recent reports show hospitality margins sitting at 23.27%, with education close behind at 23.18% through Q2 2025. Schools and academies increasingly rely on temporary teachers and teaching assistants to fill gaps created by staff absences and budget pressures.

For agencies, this presents a lucrative opportunity: maintaining flexible, pre-vetted candidate pools ensures you can meet client demand at short notice, a critical differentiator in these fast-moving sectors.

Health and Social Care: The Sector That Never Sleeps

With an ageing population, ongoing staffing shortages, and 24/7 care requirements, the health and social care industry remains a cornerstone of temporary recruitment.

Simplicity’s data for Q2 2025 reports average gross profit margins of 23.09%, proving that demand, and profitability, remain strong. Healthcare clients value speed and compliance above all else, and agencies that can guarantee both will continue to win repeat business.

Automated compliance processes, such as right-to-work checks, DBS tracking, and document expiration alerts, can help agencies cut manual workload and focus on placements. Agencies like S4S Team, for example, saw a 29.5% increase in billed hours after using Rocket Recruitment to automate compliance, proof that efficiency pays.

Logistics, Warehousing & Driving: Fuelled by Flexibility

While national spending has slowed, e-commerce remains an unstoppable engine. Warehousing, logistics, and driving roles, from pickers and packers to HGV drivers, continue to see strong demand.

Seasonal peaks, particularly in the run-up to Christmas, drive a surge in temporary job opportunities. Employers are also increasingly relying on self-employed contractors to manage costs and reduce National Insurance liabilities.

Agencies that can quickly mobilise vetted, available workers, and communicate instantly through tools like push notifications, stand to capture significant market share in this space.

Tech & Cybersecurity: The Rise of Skills-Based Hiring

Digitisation continues to reshape the job market, and temporary tech professionals are among the most sought-after workers of 2025. From software developers to cybersecurity specialists, demand remains strong even as traditional hiring slows.

Interestingly, degree requirements are falling, down 15% this year, as employers prioritise skills over credentials. This shift is opening doors for temp agencies that can upskill candidates or connect businesses with certified, job-ready talent fast.

For recruitment agencies, this is an opportunity to lean into skills-based hiring, supporting candidates through micro-certifications, training bootcamps, and on-the-job learning.

Construction & Skilled Trades: Building Through Uncertainty

With major housing projects underway and government targets to increase housing stock, construction and skilled trades remain vital.

Visa policy changes and workforce shortages are creating opportunities for temp recruitment agencies to fill crucial gaps. Demand peaks during warmer months, making pipeline management and candidate engagement key to capitalising on these cycles.

What This Means for Agencies

The message is clear: temporary recruitment remains a growth engine in 2025, but only for agencies prepared to adapt. Here’s how to position your business for success:

Diversify into high-demand sectors — Expand into healthcare, logistics, education, and tech to balance seasonal fluctuations and boost resilience.
Upskill and widen your talent pool — Partner with training providers or offer micro-certifications to ensure your candidates meet evolving employer expectations.
Push value, not sales — Speed, reliability, and compliance are what clients care about most. Build your offering around those pillars.
Plan for volatility — Construction, hospitality, and warehousing will always ebb and flow. Use automation and data insights to maintain a steady candidate pipeline through quieter periods.

What’s Next

In a cautious job market, temp roles are an essential safety net, for employers needing agility and for workers seeking flexibility. Agencies that lean into demand hotspots, embrace automation, and stay ahead of policy changes will be the ones to thrive.

Want to future-proof your agency against upcoming regulatory shifts?

📘 Download our latest guide, “Compliance or Chaos?” to uncover the 7 biggest legal changes coming in 2025, and how to prepare your business for success.