Permanent vs Contract in Higher Education: What Burman’s 2026 Data Shows
Burman’s 2026 placement data shows contract roles dominating UK higher education hiring. Here’s what the permanent vs contract split means for your job search.
The balance between permanent and contract hiring in UK higher education tells you a lot about the state of the sector. Based on our own data across the first three quarters of 2026, the picture is clear, and it has real implications for professionals considering their next move.
The headline: contract dominates
Across Q1 to Q3 2026, contract roles accounted for 57% of all placements, permanent roles 29%, and fixed-term contracts 14%. That split has remained remarkably consistent throughout the year, with contract holding steady at 57-58% across every quarter.
Quarter by quarter
Q1: Contract 58% — Perm 30% — FTC 12%
Q2: Contract 57% — Perm 23% — FTC 20%
Q3: Contract 57% — Perm 33% — FTC 10%
The most notable movement is in permanent hiring, dipping to 23% in Q2 before recovering to 33% in Q3. This reflects the broader pattern of institutions pausing permanent headcount decisions mid-year as financial pressures intensified, before cautiously resuming in Q3.
FTC activity peaked in Q2 at 20%, suggesting institutions turned to fixed-term arrangements as a middle ground during a period of uncertainty, committing to a defined piece of work without taking on permanent liability.
What this tells us about the market
The dominance of contract hiring isn’t surprising given the financial context. With 45% of universities projected to run deficits in 2025-26, institutions are understandably cautious about adding permanent headcount. Contract and interim professionals offer flexibility, they can be brought in for a specific project or period without the long-term commitment.
For candidates, the data reinforces a point worth taking seriously: if you’re only looking at permanent roles in higher education right now, you’re looking at less than a third of the available market. Contract and FTC experience is increasingly the norm, not the exception.
What to expect in Q4
Historically, Q4 sees a slight uptick in permanent hiring as institutions finalise budgets and plan for the new academic year. Whether that holds in the current climate, with financial pressures, merger activity, and ongoing redundancy programmes, remains to be seen.
