Agency Partners

Java Developer Hiring Trends in London, United Kingdom

This report was last updated on Jun 15, 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 Java job market in United Kingdom London has seen significant fluctuations in job openings over the past 12 weeks.
  • In London alone, there are currently 5,178 Software Engineer positions available, making it the leading city for Software Java Developer opportunities in the United Kingdom.
  • Mid-Senior level roles dominate the market, comprising 72% of listings, indicating a strong demand for experienced Software Java Engineers.
  • Top companies currently hiring for Software Java Engineers include Canonical, Charity Link, and Oliver Bernard, reflecting the competitive landscape shaped by these industry players.
  • With a median time to hire of 25 days, hiring managers must develop effective recruitment strategies to attract talent swiftly in this highly competitive market.
Number of roles opened and closed for Java Engineers in London in the last 3 months

Number of roles opened and closed for Java Engineers in London in the last 3 months

Over the past 12 weeks, the Software Java job market in United Kingdom London has exhibited significant fluctuations in job openings. The most notable peak occurred in week 21, with 79 new positions posted, juxtaposed against a total of 33 jobs closed in week 23. Compared to other roles in the tech sector, this dynamic highlights a robust demand for Software Java Engineers, especially in the wake of a steady recruitment push. The ongoing trends suggest that while hiring remains vibrant, recruitment strategies for CTOs and engineering leaders should focus on optimizing candidate engagement to mitigate the gap between job openings and closures across the broader European market.

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 112
Bending Spoons logo Bending Spoons Italy Information Technology & Services 2013 105
TieTalent logo TieTalent Switzerland Information Technology & Services 2017 102
Charity Link logo Charity Link United Kingdom Fund-raising 1995 70
Mindrift logo Mindrift United States Information Technology & Services null 37
Oliver Bernard logo Oliver Bernard United Kingdom Staffing & Recruiting 2010 34
JPMorganChase logo JPMorganChase United States Financial Services null 32
GRAYCE logo GRAYCE United Kingdom Management Consulting 2012 32
targetjobs UK logo targetjobs UK null null null 32
TipTopJob logo TipTopJob United Kingdom Marketing & Advertising 2000 31

Here are a few specialized software agencies you can trust:

Logo of recommended agencyLogo of recommended agencyLogo of recommended agency
Want to get personalized matches? Get started
Talent pool vs job openings for Software Engineers in United Kingdom

How competitive it is to hire Software Engineers in United Kingdom

The talent market for Software Java Engineers in Europe exhibits varying levels of availability across countries, with the United Kingdom presenting a challenging landscape for hiring managers. With a job opening count significantly outpacing the talent pool, the ratio in the UK indicates heightened competition for Software Java Developer opportunities. In contrast, countries like Germany and France showcase a more balanced ratio, making recruitment strategies for CTOs more favorable. Additionally, Poland demonstrates a higher availability of candidates relative to job openings, suggesting it may be easier to hire talent there than in the UK. Ultimately, the disparity in talent availability positions the UK as a competitive market for acquiring Senior Software Java Developers.

Seniority distribution of Java Engineer job openings in London

Seniority Distribution of Java Engineering Jobs in London

In the competitive Software Java Engineers job market in United Kingdom London, the seniority distribution reveals a clear hierarchy among available positions. Mid-Senior level roles comprise 72% of the total job listings, indicating a strong demand for seasoned professionals. Entry level positions follow at 10%, suggesting opportunities for newcomers to the field. Additionally, Director roles account for 5%, reflecting a need for strategic leadership in the tech sector.

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 development job market, the majority of engineering roles are offered as full-time positions, accounting for 91% of the available jobs. Contract roles make up 8% of the job market, while part-time positions represent 3%. This distribution highlights the strong demand for stable, long-term employment opportunities among Software Java 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 for Software Java Engineers in the United Kingdom reveals critical insights for hiring managers in the tech sector. With a significant number of candidates being hired within the 10 to 30-day range, it highlights a competitive recruitment landscape—1019 hires at 10 days, 784 at 25 days, and 691 at 30 days, indicating a strong demand for immediate talent acquisition. However, the data also suggests that as the hiring window extends beyond 40 days, the count of hires decreases sharply, particularly evident with only 4 hires at the 90-day mark. For CTOs and Engineering Managers, these hiring trends underline the necessity of agile recruitment strategies to secure top Software Java Developer opportunities promptly in the bustling London tech market.

Most popular cities in United Kingdom to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in United Kingdom to hire Software Engineers

In the United Kingdom, the distribution of Software Engineer job openings reveals that London is the dominant city, accounting for 92% of the total opportunities with 5,178 positions available. Manchester follows with 9% of the market, offering 526 jobs, while Leeds and Birmingham contribute lower percentages at 5% and 5% respectively with 297 and 281 openings. This concentration in London underscores the capital's significance as a hub for Software Java job market trends.

Most sought after technologies in London for Java

Key technologies for Java Engineers

In the Software Java Engineers job market in United Kingdom London, Java remains the most prevalent technology, with a frequency of 3,792. Complementing Java's dominance, Microservices and Spring Boot are also key technologies, with frequencies of 925 and 895 respectively. Additionally, frameworks such as Spring, utilized extensively in Java development, have a notable frequency of 843. The significance of SQL, with a frequency of 725, underscores the importance of database management in the recruitment of Software Java Developers. For a comprehensive view of the technology landscape, please refer to the accompanying chart.

Have a great project in mind?

We've identified 100+ world-class agencies, drop us a line if you'd like to work with them.