Nearly half, or 40%, of UK workers would consider working in a temporary, interim or contract position, citing a better lifestyle as the top reason, according to survey data from Walters People, part of the Robert Walters Group.

Walters People’s data also showed that for the first time in 18 months, contracting vacancies in the UK have seen a significant boost, increasing by 29% in the second quarter of this year.

In addition to a better lifestyle (cited by 47%), UK workers who would consider working in a temporary, interim or contract role also cite higher hourly pay (29%), more flexibility (26%) and exposure to new skills (19%) as the main drivers.

Meanwhile, Walters People found that the regions that have seen the biggest increase in contract or interim vacancies over the past three months are Birmingham, up 77%; Manchester, up 38%; London, up 37%; Bristol, up 32%; and Leeds, up 24%.

According to job vacancy data, industries that saw the biggest increase in contract or interim hiring in the second quarter were legal, up 58%; HR, up 30%; secretarial and business support, up 30%; and accounting and finance, up 11%.