PageGroup UK Gross Profit Falls 5.3 Percent but Decline Slows from 11.4 Percent Prior Quarter

PageGroup reported a 5.3 percent drop in UK gross profit for the three months to the end of June 2026, an improvement from the 11.4 percent decline recorded in the prior quarter. The Independent reported that the firm described the UK jobs market as tough but stable, with pockets of optimism beginning to appear in technology recruiting and its Page Executive offering.

Group-wide gross profit fell 0.2 percent on a constant currency basis to 197.6 million pounds.

Around half of PageGroup's markets worldwide now show growth, and Southern Europe returned to growth in the period. The company cut another 80 fee earners in the second quarter. Fee earner headcount stood at 4,994 at the end of June, down 1.6 percent from a year earlier, while non-fee earners declined 2.3 percent.

These reductions form part of ongoing cost control that has delivered annual savings of around 40 million pounds through lower headcount, office closures and fewer management layers. PageGroup said it remains on track for annual earnings of around 28 million pounds in 2026, above the 20.9 million pounds reported for 2025.

Chief executive Nicholas Kirk stated there remains a high degree of uncertainty in the outlook for the rest of the year while noting that the firm maintains a flexible cost base that adjusts to market conditions.