Agency Partners

Software Developer Hiring Trends in Glasgow, 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 Engineer job market in United Kingdom Glasgow has recently experienced fluctuations with 43 new positions posted at its peak, contrasted by just 1 opening in another week, indicating a competitive landscape.
  • The demand for Mid-Senior level Software Engineers is pronounced, comprising 55% of current roles, while the availability of Entry level positions stands at 27%, emphasizing the necessity for targeted recruitment strategies.
  • Glasgow's software job market is characterized by a preference for full-time employment, comprising 91% of available roles, suggesting a key opportunity for hiring managers to attract long-term talent.
  • Top hiring companies in the region include Canonical, GRAYCE, and Hunter Bond, showcasing a diverse array of opportunities within the tech sector.
  • The median time to hire for Software Engineers in the United Kingdom is notably 29 days, underscoring the urgency for effective recruitment initiatives to secure skilled professionals.
Number of roles opened and closed for Software Engineers in Glasgow in the last 3 months

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

The Software Engineer job market in United Kingdom Glasgow has shown notable fluctuations over the past 12 weeks. Recent data indicates a peak in job openings with 43 new positions posted in week 15, contrasting sharply with lower activity noted in adjacent weeks, including a mere 1 job opening in week 17. While the trend of closed jobs remains relatively low at the start of the period, a significant rise in closed roles is observed in recent weeks, reaching 14 in week 20, suggesting a competitive hiring landscape. Compared to other roles within United Kingdom Glasgow and software positions in other European countries, the hiring dynamics for Software Engineers reflect a burgeoning demand amidst increasing competition, underscoring the necessity for effective recruitment strategies among CTOs and Engineering Managers in the region.

Who else is hiring for software Engineers in United Kingdom:

Company name Country Industry Founded # Job openings
Canonical logo Canonical United Kingdom Information Technology & Services 2004 75
TieTalent logo TieTalent Switzerland Information Technology & Services 2017 70
Bending Spoons logo Bending Spoons Italy Information Technology & Services 2013 32
GRAYCE logo GRAYCE United Kingdom Management Consulting 2012 31
Hunter Bond logo Hunter Bond United Kingdom Staffing & Recruiting 2014 29
Oliver Bernard logo Oliver Bernard United Kingdom Staffing & Recruiting 2010 20
Understanding Recruitment logo Understanding Recruitment United Kingdom Staffing & Recruiting 2007 20
Agoda logo Agoda Singapore Information Technology & Services 2005 20
Marriott International logo Marriott International Italy Hospitality 1927 20
Pepper Mill logo 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 engineer job market in the United Kingdom faces intense competition, particularly in Glasgow. With a significant number of job openings compared to the available talent pool, the ratio indicates a challenging hiring landscape. For instance, while countries like Germany, with a more balanced ratio, and Poland, showcasing a healthy supply of talent, present easier recruitment scenarios, the United Kingdom’s landscape suggests a tighter market. This trend highlights the urgent need for innovative recruitment strategies for CTOs in the United Kingdom's tech sector to attract and retain skilled software engineers amidst the growing demand.

Seniority distribution of Software Engineer job openings in Glasgow

Seniority Distribution of Software Engineering Jobs in Glasgow

In the software job market in United Kingdom Glasgow, the seniority distribution reveals that 55% of positions are at the Mid-Senior level, followed by 27% at the Entry level and 7% in Internship roles. This highlights a strong demand for experienced professionals, indicating that hiring managers should consider focusing their recruitment strategies on Mid-Senior level Software Engineers to align with market trends.

Chart about preferred employment type for Engineering roles in United Kingdom

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom's software engineering job market, the predominant employment type is full-time positions, accounting for 91% of available roles. Following this, contract positions represent 8% of the market, while part-time roles make up 3%. This distribution underscores the strong preference for stable, long-term employment among Software Engineers in United Kingdom Glasgow and highlights the recruitment strategies that can effectively attract talent in this competitive landscape.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in United Kingdom

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The time to hire for software jobs in the United Kingdom exhibits a distinct distribution, with the majority of positions filled within a 30 to 40-day window. Specifically, 496 roles were filled in the 25-day range, and 382 in the 20-day category, illustrating a robust demand for software engineers that often results in quicker hiring cycles. Conversely, there are notable declines in the number of roles filled as hiring extends beyond 40 days, with only 131 positions filled at 35 days and 106 at 45 days. This data suggests hiring managers and CTOs in the United Kingdom, particularly in Glasgow, should be prepared for efficient recruitment strategies to secure top talent promptly. Understanding these hiring trends will be vital for addressing the future demand for software engineers in the competitive landscape of the UK's tech sector.

Most popular cities in United Kingdom to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in United Kingdom to hire Software Engineers

In the United Kingdom's software job market, a significant concentration of openings is observed in London, accounting for 93% of the total job listings, making it the leading city for software engineers. Following London, Manchester presents a modest share with 10% of the openings, while Leeds holds 8% of the market. This data reinforces the capital's dominance in the tech sector, as illustrated in the accompanying chart.

Most sought after technologies in Glasgow for Software

Key technologies for Software Engineers

In the dynamic landscape of the Software job market in the United Kingdom, particularly in Glasgow, several key technologies are gaining traction among employers. The most prominent is JavaScript, with a significant usage frequency of 7,878, followed closely by Python at 7,568. Additionally, C# (6,038) and .NET (5,307) remain crucial in enterprise-level applications. Meanwhile, frameworks such as React (5,633) and Angular (2,796) continue to shape the frontend development process. This data, illustrated in the accompanying chart, highlights the technologies that hiring managers should prioritize when seeking candidates for software engineering roles.

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