Agency Partners

Market insights for hiring Software Engineers in United Kingdom

This report was last updated on Apr 12, 2025

Agency Partners scans all software engineering jobs in Europe in real time. We monitor 50.000+ jobs each week to gather insights about the job market and indentify top companies. Top companies work with us to find their world-class development partners to drive their innovation projects.

Key Insights from this report

  • The software engineering job market in the United Kingdom has experienced significant fluctuations, with a peak of 818 new software positions posted within the last 12 weeks, reflecting a competitive landscape for hiring managers.
  • The largest talent pool in the UK is currently challenged by the intense job market, indicating potential difficulties for hiring Software Engineers, especially in senior roles compared to other European countries.
  • In the UK, there are currently 1,103 Software Engineer job openings, underscoring robust opportunities, primarily dominated by full-time positions which constitute 91% of the roles available.
  • The top three companies actively hiring Software Engineers in the United Kingdom are Meta, Amazon, and FNZ, which collectively highlight the demand across various sectors in the tech industry.
  • The median time to hire Software Engineers in the UK stands at 39 days, further emphasizing the need for strategic recruitment initiatives that meet the swift demands of the current software job market.
Number of roles opened and closed for Software Engineers in United Kingdom in the last 3 months

Number of roles opened and closed for Software Engineers in United Kingdom in the last 3 months

In the United Kingdom, the software engineering job market has shown significant fluctuations over the past 12 weeks, with a peak of 818 new software positions posted in week 5. In contrast, the closing of roles has been inconsistent, with a peak of 116 jobs closed in week 3. The difference between openings and closures underscores a competitive landscape, as hiring managers may need to adapt their recruitment strategies to align with the evident demand. Comparatively, the broader European market has consistently demonstrated higher job counts, reaching a high of 2,445 openings in the same week, suggesting that the tech sector across Europe continues to outpace the U.K. in terms of software developer opportunities.

Who else is hiring for Software Engineers in United Kingdom:

Company name Country Industry Founded # Job openings
Meta logo Meta United States of America Software Development null 5
Amazon logo Amazon United States Information Technology & Services 1994 5
Bending Spoons logo Bending Spoons Italy Information Technology & Services 2013 5
TieTalent logo TieTalent Switzerland Information Technology & Services 2017 3
Hunter Bond logo Hunter Bond United Kingdom Staffing And Recruiting 2014 3
Discovery Education logo Discovery Education United States Government Administration 2001 3
FNZ logo FNZ United Kingdom Financial Services 2003 3
Rio Hondo College logo Rio Hondo College null null null 3
Solirius Consulting logo Solirius Consulting United Kingdom Information Technology & Services 2007 3
Dorset Software logo Dorset Software United Kingdom Information Technology & Services 1987 3

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Talent pool vs job openings for Software Engineers in United Kingdom

How competitive it is to hire Software Engineers in United Kingdom

The software job market in the United Kingdom is currently facing notable challenges, given the existing ratio between job openings and the available talent pool. With a significant number of job openings, the UK's talent pool is not as expansive compared to countries like Germany, France, and Poland, where a higher number of candidates are available per job. This disparity indicates that hiring talent in the United Kingdom may be more competitive and challenging, particularly for senior software developer positions. As the future demand for software engineers in the United Kingdom continues to grow, recruitment strategies for CTOs and engineering managers will need to adapt to these hiring trends across Europe's technology landscape.

Seniority distribution of Software Engineer job openings in United Kingdom

Seniority Distribution of Software Engineering Jobs in United Kingdom

The seniority distribution of Software Engineering jobs in the United Kingdom reveals significant insights for hiring managers. Notably, Entry level positions comprise 42% of the job market, followed closely by Mid-Senior level roles at 36%. Additionally, Internship opportunities account for 16% of available positions, indicating a robust entry pathway for emerging talent. This data is crucial for understanding the dynamics of the software job market in the United Kingdom.

Chart about preferred employment type for Engineering roles in United Kingdom

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in United Kingdom

In the current landscape of the software engineers job market in the United Kingdom, full-time positions dominate, accounting for 91% of opportunities. Meanwhile, contract roles represent 8%, and internships make up approximately 1%. This distribution highlights the strong reliance on full-time employment for Software Developer opportunities in the United Kingdom, underscoring the need for effective recruitment strategies for CTOs in the UK’s tech sector.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in United Kingdom

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The time to hire distribution for software jobs in the United Kingdom reveals significant insights for hiring managers. A substantial proportion of positions, approximately 30%, were filled within 30 to 40 days, indicating a competitive market for Software Engineers. Notably, the data shows that hiring times of 25 days and 30 days account for 84 and 141 placements, respectively, suggesting a strong concentration of candidates ready for swift engagement. Conversely, hiring durations extending beyond 60 days demonstrate a declining trend, highlighting the need for recruitment strategies that adapt to the fast-paced software job market. For CTOs and engineering managers, understanding these hiring patterns can inform effective recruitment strategies that align with current Software Engineer hiring trends in the United Kingdom.

Most popular cities in United Kingdom to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in United Kingdom to hire Software Engineers

The analysis of the Software Engineers job market trends in the United Kingdom reveals a significant concentration of job openings within major cities. London stands out as the primary hub, accounting for 67% of the total job openings, followed by Leeds at 12% and Manchester at 8%. This data underscores the capital's dominance in the software job market in the United Kingdom.

Most sought after technologies in United Kingdom for Software

Key technologies for Software Engineers

In the current software job market in the United Kingdom, certain technologies have emerged as pivotal in shaping hiring decisions. Notably, Java holds the highest frequency of 9,816 mentions, followed closely by JavaScript at 8,693. Python, another critical language, is frequently encountered with 7,829 occurrences. The demand for .NET and C# is also significant, with frequencies of 6,030 and 6,668, respectively. These technologies represent crucial focal points for hiring managers and recruiters as they strategize recruitment to meet the future demand for Software Engineers in the United Kingdom.

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