The Herefordshire & Worcestershire Salary & Benefits Report 2026 is the region’s most trusted and comprehensive source of local salary benchmarking, benefits data, and labour market insight. Produced by Hewett Recruitment in partnership with the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, the report is informed by survey responses from 300 organisations across the two counties, the majority of which are SMEs.
Designed to support employers, HR professionals, and business leaders, the report provides critical insight into how organisations are responding to economic uncertainty, rising employment costs, and evolving workforce expectations across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Local Labour Market & Recruitment Trends
The 2026 findings show a labour market that remains active but increasingly cautious. While employment levels are broadly stable, job mobility has slowed and recruitment challenges persist, with 65% of businesses reporting difficulties hiring. Employers are increasingly turning to temporary, interim, and flexible staffing solutions to manage risk, control costs, and maintain agility in the face of inflation, National Insurance increases, and regulatory change.
Sharon Smith, Chief Executive of the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, comments:
“This report provides invaluable local insight into pay, benefits, and workforce trends at a time when businesses are operating in an increasingly complex environment. Understanding how organisations across Herefordshire and Worcestershire are adapting helps employers plan, invest, and remain competitive while continuing to support their people.”
Salary Benchmarking Across Key Sectors
Salary growth across the region has been measured rather than accelerated, reflecting employer focus on sustainability and retention rather than headline pay inflation. Demand remains strong for engineering, IT & technology, finance leadership, HR, sales, and executive roles, with specialist and senior positions continuing to command a premium.
The report highlights how company size, sector, and skills scarcity continue to drive pay variation, reinforcing the importance of local salary benchmarking when attracting and retaining talent in a competitive recruitment market.
Laura Hewett, Owner & Director of Hewett Recruitment, explains:
This year’s Salary & Benefits Report provides the most comprehensive local benchmarking for employers across Herefordshire and Worcestershire. In a challenging and competitive labour market, our findings offer practical insights to help businesses plan, adapt, and thrive - supporting informed decisions on pay, benefits, and workforce strategy for the year ahead.
Benefits, Flexibility & Retention
Employee benefits remain a crucial differentiator. While many employers continue to offer standard annual leave, enhanced packages—including wellbeing support, hybrid working, flexible hours, enhanced sick pay, and lifestyle benefits—are increasingly used to attract and retain talent. Hybrid working is now firmly embedded across the region, reinforcing the importance of flexibility in modern recruitment strategies.
Diversity, Inclusion & the Future Workplace
The 2026 report shows encouraging progress in Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, with more organisations embedding inclusive practices into recruitment, leadership, and company culture. The report also explores the growing role of AI and automation, highlighting a balanced, people-first approach where technology supports productivity without replacing human judgement and creativity.
Supporting Employers in 2026 and Beyond
As businesses plan for the year ahead, the report highlights the growing importance of temporary staffing, apprenticeships, upskilling, and internal development pathways. These approaches are helping organisations address skills shortages, manage uncertainty, and build resilient, future-ready teams rooted in the local economy.
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