In 2025, accounting, audit and tax employers continued to face intense competition for talent, with 59% of hiring leaders citing high competition for similar skills as their primary challenge.

Salary expectations and counteroffers remained significant barriers, reinforcing our view that the market remains structurally tight, with scarce talent concentrated in critical areas. Some audit teams within professional services environments struggled to retain newly qualified staff receiving competing offers, while finance and tax functions in industry experienced mid-year departures of professionals seeking improved bonuses or flexibility.

We believe slower internal decision-making and limited career progression further exacerbated these challenges, highlighting the importance of streamlined hiring processes and transparent career pathways in 2026.