Chemical sector recruitment in 2026 faces persistent skills shortages, rising salary pressure, and growing demand for hybrid technical and digital expertise. This analysis explores hiring trends, salary benchmarks, and workforce strategies shaping chemical businesses across the UK and EMEA.
Rethinking December Hiring Why the end of the year can be your strongest recruitment window Many companies ease off their recruitment activity as the year closes. Internal processes slow, interview panels shrink and hiring decisions are deferred until January. Yet for organisations that continue to engage candidates, December offers a strategic advantage. Talent availability often
Adhesives Recruitment: Bonding the Right Talent into a Changing Market In the adhesives industry two connected stories are unfolding. Market growth is steady and technical innovation is accelerating. At the same time companies are finding it increasingly difficult to secure the people who can take these innovations to market. For manufacturers and converters this creates
What Personal Care recruitment teams need to know about today’s R&D talent market The personal care industry relies on specialist talent far more than it did a decade ago. Formulation chemists, application specialists, regulatory experts and technical sales professionals all play a central role in helping brands deliver safe, effective and commercially viable products.
Why formulation chemists are reconsidering their career paths The personal care industry has always relied on the creativity and technical depth of its formulation chemists. They sit at the heart of innovation, turning ideas into products that feel right, smell right and meet increasingly complex regulatory expectations. Yet across Europe, more chemists are stepping back
A balanced overview of leading chemical recruitment companies in the UK for 2025, including Witan Search and other respected sector specialists.
The Growing Demand for Lubricant Chemists in Sustainable Manufacturing Across the manufacturing landscape, sustainability is no longer a side initiative, it’s a central driver of innovation. Nowhere is this more evident than in the lubricants sector, where chemists are being called upon to rethink formulations, reduce environmental impact, and support cleaner industrial processes. From Conventional
Why Specialist Recruiters Outperform Generalists in the Chemical Industry You’ve had recruiters promise the world, go quiet after a week, or bombard your inbox with barely relevant CVs. So when someone brings up exclusivity, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, anything with a clock on it, you flinch. Because what if they waste your time? But here’s
Hiring in Europe: What Global Companies Need to Know Before Expanding Europe remains one of the most attractive markets for global companies looking to grow. From chemical manufacturing to renewable energy, data centres, and advanced materials, the region offers skilled talent, innovation, and access to diverse consumers.But expanding into Europe is rarely as simple as
Witan Search is a specialist chemical recruitment agency in the UK focused on permanent placements. We connect technical, commercial, and operational talent with leading chemical companies.