Software Developer Hiring Trends in Belfast, United Kingdom

This report was last updated on May 24, 2025

I analyze live hiring data and tech job trends across Europe to give CTOs and Product Leaders a strategic edge. By tracking tens of thousands of open roles each week, I uncover which skills, roles, and locations are in highest demand — potential competitors, typical time to hire, talent pool sizes, and more to help you prioritize hiring, benchmark and stay competitive in a fast-moving market.

Key learnings from this report

The Software Engineers job market trends in the United Kingdom, particularly in Belfast, show a robust demand for talent with over 17 new openings noted in week 15 alone, indicating a strong recruitment environment.
The talent pool for Software Engineers in Belfast is concentrated, with a median time to hire of 29 days, portraying a competitive landscape for filling positions.
Top companies actively recruiting Software Engineers in Belfast include Canonical, GRAYCE, and Hunter Bond, with a combined total of around 135 job openings, reflecting the diverse opportunities available in the region.
With a noted preference for mid-senior level professionals, comprising 53% of the job market, hiring managers should adjust their recruitment strategies to attract experienced candidates while also nurturing entry-level talent.
As software job listings remain predominantly full-time (91%), CTOs and hiring managers are encouraged to offer stable employment conditions to attract the best Software Engineer talent in the region.

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

The Software Engineer job market in United Kingdom Belfast has exhibited notable fluctuations in recent weeks. Over the last 12 weeks, the data reveals a peak in job openings during week 15 with 17 new positions posted. Conversely, there were only 2 closures that week, indicating a positive hiring environment for Software Engineers. Comparing this to other roles within the same region, the growth in Software Developer opportunities highlights a robust demand, especially relative to the closures, which remain low. This trend similarly resonates across Europe, where the demand for Software Developers continues to outpace closures, suggesting strategic recruitment opportunities for IT leaders and CTOs.

Who else is hiring for software Engineers in United Kingdom:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	75
TieTalent	Switzerland	Information Technology & Services	2017	70
Bending Spoons	Italy	Information Technology & Services	2013	32
GRAYCE	United Kingdom	Management Consulting	2012	31
Hunter Bond	United Kingdom	Staffing & Recruiting	2014	29
Oliver Bernard	United Kingdom	Staffing & Recruiting	2010	20
Understanding Recruitment	United Kingdom	Staffing & Recruiting	2007	20
Agoda	Singapore	Information Technology & Services	2005	20
Marriott International	Italy	Hospitality	1927	20
Pepper Mill	United States	Mechanical Or Industrial Engineering	null	19

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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 engineers job market trends in the United Kingdom, particularly in Belfast, indicate a challenging hiring environment. With a significant number of job openings, the ratio of available talent to positions is lower compared to other European nations such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands. For instance, while the UK's talent pool demonstrates a competitive ratio, Germany offers a more favorable landscape for recruitment strategies for CTOs, reflecting a higher availability of skilled professionals. Consequently, hiring managers in the UK may face difficulties sourcing senior software developers, urging them to adapt their recruitment strategies to secure top talent amidst emerging trends in software programmer hiring across Europe.

Seniority distribution of Software Engineer job openings in Belfast

Seniority Distribution of Software Engineering Jobs in Belfast

In the Software Engineers job market trends in the United Kingdom, particularly in Belfast, a notable 53% of positions are categorized as Mid-Senior level, indicating a strong demand for experienced professionals. Entry level roles comprise 22% of the job market, while Associate positions account for 8%. This distribution highlights the recruitment strategies for CTOs in United Kingdom Belfast's tech sector, emphasizing the importance of attracting and developing talent at varying levels of experience.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom's software engineering job market, the majority of roles are predominantly full-time, accounting for 91% of available positions. Contract roles comprise 8% of the market, while part-time opportunities represent 3%. This distribution highlights a strong preference for stable, long-term employment among software engineers in the region.

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 critical insights for hiring managers. A predominant 25% of candidates are hired within 25 days, while 40% find positions within 35 days. Notably, the most significant hiring spike occurs around 15 to 30 days, indicating a competitive market for Software Engineers. Conversely, only a small fraction of candidates take over 90 days to secure employment, emphasizing the urgency of recruitment strategies for CTOs in the UK. These trends are essential for understanding the hiring landscape in Belfast and optimizing recruitment strategies to attract top talent.

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Most popular cities in United Kingdom to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in United Kingdom to hire Software Engineers

In the Software Engineers job market trends in United Kingdom, London dominates with 92% of the total job openings, reflecting its status as the capital and a major tech hub. Following London, Manchester holds a mere 9% of the total listings, while other cities like Leeds and Cambridge account for 8% and 7% respectively. This concentration highlights the need for recruitment strategies for CTOs in United Kingdom Belfast's tech sector to tap into potential talent in these emerging areas.

Most sought after technologies in Belfast for Software

Key technologies for Software Engineers

In the ever-evolving software jobs market in the United Kingdom, particularly in Belfast, several key technologies stand out due to their high frequency of usage. Dominating the landscape, Java leads with 9,364 mentions, followed closely by JavaScript at 7,878. Python, a language gaining popularity among Software Engineers, appears with 7,568 mentions, while C# and .NET also reflect significant usage with 6,038 and 5,307 occurrences, respectively. Other notable technologies include React and TypeScript, with mentions of 5,633 and 4,307, underscoring the dynamic nature of programming languages and frameworks in the software job market. For a visual representation of these trends, please refer to the accompanying chart.

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