Agency Partners

Software Developer Hiring Trends in Leeds, United Kingdom

This report was last updated on May 13, 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 learnings from this report

  • The software engineering job market in United Kingdom Leeds is demonstrating strong growth, with 147 job openings currently available, constituting 6% of national opportunities and marking Leeds as a vibrant tech hub.
  • Leeds is showing a notable demand for software engineers, particularly for roles at the mid-senior level, which make up 50% of current vacancies, emphasizing the future demand for skilled engineers in this region.
  • Top companies hiring software engineers in United Kingdom Leeds include Canonical, Understanding Recruitment, and E.ON UK, reflecting a diverse range of industries investing in tech talent.
  • The time to hire for software engineers in Leeds averages 28 days, suggesting a relatively efficient recruitment process, but hiring managers must remain agile to compete for talent amid growing disparities between job openings and the available talent pool.
  • Employment type trends reveal that 91% of software engineering roles in United Kingdom Leeds are full-time positions, highlighting the preference among employers for permanent commitments while also indicating a stable job market for software developers.
Number of roles opened and closed for Software Engineers in Leeds in the last 3 months

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

In the past 12 weeks, the software engineering job market in United Kingdom Leeds has shown notable fluctuations. The number of new software developer positions opened has surged, particularly in weeks 14 and 15, with weekly job openings reaching 17 and 23 respectively. In contrast, job closures have remained relatively stable, with a peak of 12 positions closed in week 15. This growing disparity suggests a robust demand for software engineers compared to other roles within the region. Compared to other European countries, Leeds is demonstrating a significant increase in software developer opportunities, indicating a favorable environment for recruitment strategies employed by CTOs and engineering managers.

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 23
Understanding Recruitment logo Understanding Recruitment United Kingdom Staffing & Recruiting 2007 22
Agoda logo Agoda Singapore Information Technology & Services 2005 11
E.ON UK logo E.ON UK United Kingdom Utilities 1989 11
Marriott International logo Marriott International Italy Hospitality 1927 11
Meta logo Meta United States Information Technology & Services 2004 10
hackajob logo hackajob United Kingdom Information Technology & Services 2014 9
Version 1 logo Version 1 Ireland Information Technology & Services 1996 9
Teya logo Teya United Kingdom Financial Services 2019 9
Pepper Mill logo Pepper Mill United States Mechanical Or Industrial Engineering null 9

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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, specifically in Leeds, is facing significant challenges due to the disparity between the number of job openings and the size of the available talent pool. Currently, the UK has a relatively high count of job openings compared to countries such as Germany, France, and Poland, where the talent supply remains more abundant. This results in a lower jobs-to-talent pool ratio in the UK, indicating that hiring software engineers may be increasingly difficult. As such, hiring managers and CTOs in the technology sector must adopt innovative recruitment strategies to attract top talent in United Kingdom Leeds, while also considering opportunities in countries like Germany, where the talent pool is more favorable.

Seniority distribution of Software Engineer job openings in Leeds

Seniority Distribution of Software Engineering Jobs in Leeds

The software job market in United Kingdom Leeds exhibits a diverse seniority distribution among available positions. Notably, 50% of the roles are categorized as Mid-Senior level, while Entry level positions account for 24%. Additionally, Internship roles make up 9% of the total job opportunities. This distribution highlights the demand for experienced Software Engineers, suggesting a strong future demand for skilled professionals in Leeds's tech sector.

Chart about preferred employment type for Engineering roles in United Kingdom

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in United Kingdom

The employment type distribution for software engineering roles in the United Kingdom reveals that a significant 91% of positions are offered as full-time roles, underscoring the strong preference for permanent employment in the sector. Contract roles account for 8% of the job market, providing flexibility for both employers and talent. Meanwhile, part-time opportunities represent just 2% of the overall job landscape, indicating limited availability for those seeking part-time software developer positions.

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, particularly in Leeds, reveals significant trends relevant to hiring managers. The majority of positions are filled within 20 to 30 days, with 497 entries at the 25-day mark and 430 at 30 days, indicating a potential sweet spot for recruitment strategy. However, longer hiring processes are also evident, with 355 positions taking up to 15 days and a decline in counts as the timeframe extends beyond 30 days. This distribution highlights the importance of efficient recruitment strategies to attract talent swiftly, essential for maintaining a competitive edge in the software engineer job market.

Most popular cities in United Kingdom to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in United Kingdom to hire Software Engineers

In the competitive landscape of the Software Engineers job market in the United Kingdom, Leeds stands out with 147 job openings, representing 6% of the total job opportunities across the analyzed cities. London, the capital, significantly leads this segment with 45% of the job share, followed by Manchester at 4%. This distribution highlights the concentration of opportunities in major cities while underscoring the potential for growth in the Leeds tech sector.

Most sought after technologies in Leeds for Software

Key technologies for Software Engineers

The software job market in the United Kingdom, particularly in Leeds, shows a strong preference for certain technologies that are crucial for hiring decisions. Java leads the way with a frequency of 8,580, indicating its prominent role in software development. Following closely are JavaScript at 7,512 and Python at 6,951, both reflecting the growing demand for versatile programming skills. C# and .NET are also significant, with frequencies of 5,772 and 5,072 respectively, showcasing their importance in enterprise-level applications. The chart attached provides a comprehensive overview of these technology trends, which hiring managers should consider when evaluating potential candidates for software engineering roles.

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