Agency Partners

PHP Developer Hiring Trends in Manchester, 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 current talent pool for Software PHP Engineers in the United Kingdom, particularly in Manchester, reflects significant opportunities for hiring managers and tech leaders, with a compelling number of job openings highlighting the industry’s demand.
  • In the last three months, Manchester's Software PHP Engineer job market showcased a peak of 12 new roles in weeks 14 and 15, while a concerning number of positions closed, with 8 jobs shut down in week 20, underscoring the volatility of the recruitment landscape.
  • Prominent companies currently hiring Software PHP Engineers include Canonical, GRAYCE, and Hunter Bond, reflecting a robust demand across various sectors within the UK’s technology landscape.
  • The seniority distribution of job postings indicates a strong preference for mid-senior level expertise, accounting for 44% of roles, signifying a critical need for experienced talent among hiring managers in Manchester.
  • The hiring landscape in Manchester reveals a median time to hire of 32 days, suggesting that employers need to act swiftly to secure top candidates in a competitive market characterized by fluctuating demands.
Number of roles opened and closed for PHP Engineers in Manchester in the last 3 months

Number of roles opened and closed for PHP Engineers in Manchester in the last 3 months

In the last twelve weeks, the Software PHP Engineer job market in United Kingdom Manchester has demonstrated a noteworthy upward trend, peaking at 12 new roles posted in weeks 14 and 15. Although the number of job openings fluctuated, the closed jobs reveal a concerning pattern, with a total of 8 positions closed in week 20 alone. This indicates a potential challenge in sustaining a growing pipeline of Software PHP Developer opportunities in Manchester, compared to a more stable job environment observed in other European tech hubs. As recruitment strategies evolve, CTOs and hiring managers in the United Kingdom Manchester tech sector may need to adapt their approaches to navigate these dynamic shifts in the hiring landscape.

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 PHP Engineers job market trends in the United Kingdom, particularly in Manchester, reveal a competitive landscape influenced by the current ratio of job openings to available talent. The United Kingdom presents a jobs-to-talent pool ratio suggesting a moderate challenge in hiring, particularly when compared to countries such as Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands, which exhibit a more favorable ratio, indicating easier hiring conditions. In contrast, Manchester's unique positioning within this framework shows significant demand for Software PHP Developers, highlighting the necessity for strategic recruitment approaches for CTOs and engineering managers in the region. As the demand for Senior Software PHP Developers continues to grow, understanding these market dynamics will be crucial for employers aiming to attract top talent in the UK's tech sector.

Seniority distribution of PHP Engineer job openings in Manchester

Seniority Distribution of PHP Engineering Jobs in Manchester

In the Software PHP job market in United Kingdom Manchester, the seniority distribution reveals that 44% of positions are at the Mid-Senior level, followed by 34% at the Entry level, and 8% for Associates. This data highlights the significant demand for experienced Software PHP Engineers, providing hiring managers with critical insights into the talent landscape.

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 engineering job market, the distribution of employment types reveals that 91% of positions are Full-time, making it the dominant employment type. Contract roles account for 8% of the job market, while Part-time positions represent 3%. This data underscores the preference for stable, full-time employment among Software PHP Engineers, which hiring managers in Manchester and across the UK should consider when formulating recruitment strategies.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in United Kingdom

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The analysis of the time to hire distribution for Software PHP jobs in the United Kingdom reveals significant trends that hiring managers must consider. A substantial portion of candidates, representing 496 positions, were hired within a 25-day timeframe, while the 35-day mark saw an even higher count of 669, indicating a peak in hiring activity. This suggests that the demand for Software PHP Engineers is dynamic, with an observable tendency for candidates to be successfully onboarded between 20 to 35 days. Conversely, a notable decline in the count occurs past this mark, particularly with only 10 hires taking 75 days or more. Understanding these timeframes is crucial for CTOs and recruitment teams in Manchester and throughout the UK, as they can tailor their recruitment strategies accordingly to enhance efficiency in a competitive tech sector.

Most popular cities in United Kingdom to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in United Kingdom to hire Software Engineers

In analyzing the location distribution for Software PHP Engineer job openings in the United Kingdom, the data reveals that London leads with 93% of the total job market, reflecting a significant concentration of opportunities for Software PHP Developers. Following London, Manchester accounts for 9% of the overall openings, making it a notable hub for PHP talent. Other cities such as Leeds and Cambridge contribute to the landscape, holding 8% and 7% respectively. Please refer to the accompanying chart for a visual representation of these statistics.

Most sought after technologies in Manchester for PHP

Key technologies for PHP Engineers

In the Software PHP job market, particularly within the United Kingdom and Manchester, several key technologies dominate the landscape. PHP remains the most prevalent technology, with a frequency of 2,272, indicating its central role in web development. Following PHP are MySQL and JavaScript, with frequencies of 647 and 1,160 respectively, highlighting the importance of database management and client-side scripting. Other significant technologies include Python at 626, Java at 612, and a range of frameworks such as Laravel and Symfony, with frequencies of 419 and 422. The accompanying chart illustrates these data points, providing a clear overview of the technologies driving demand in the industry.

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