PHP Developer Hiring Trends in Manchester, United Kingdom

This report was last updated on Jul 13, 2025

Bence Gedai

Founder

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 PHP Engineers job market in United Kingdom Manchester has seen the opening of 47 new roles over the past 12 weeks, yet a concerning 66 positions were closed, resulting in a net loss of job opportunities.
Manchester hosts 8% of available roles across the United Kingdom, emphasizing its significance as a potential hub for Software PHP Developer opportunities, despite London accounting for 92% of the total market.
The employment type distribution shows a clear preference for full-time positions, as 91% of Software PHP Engineering roles are permanent, suggesting a demand for long-term commitment among employers.
Competitively, the United Kingdom presents challenges in recruiting Software PHP Engineers, particularly in Manchester, where hiring managers are urged to adopt aggressive recruitment strategies due to a tighter talent pool compared to other European countries.
With a median time to hire of 32 days, it's crucial for CTOs and hiring managers to streamline their recruitment processes to attract and secure top Software PHP talent efficiently in this fast-evolving market.

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

Over the past 12 weeks, the Software PHP Engineers job market in United Kingdom Manchester has exhibited significant fluctuations. A total of 47 new positions were posted, with peak weeks seeing as many as 12 openings; however, a concerning trend arises as 66 jobs were closed during the same period. This indicates a net loss in job opportunities, contrasting sharply with other tech roles in the region where job openings have been more stable. Compared to other European countries, the Software PHP Developer opportunities in United Kingdom Manchester currently reflect a challenging landscape, necessitating adaptive recruitment strategies for CTOs and hiring managers aiming to attract and retain talent.

Who else is hiring for software Engineers in United Kingdom:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	74
TieTalent	Switzerland	Information Technology & Services	2017	56
Bending Spoons	Italy	Information Technology & Services	2013	40
targetjobs UK	null	null	null	29
Mindrift	United States	Information Technology & Services	null	27
Arm	United Kingdom	Semiconductors	1990	26
JPMorganChase	United States	Financial Services	null	23
Oliver Bernard	United Kingdom	Staffing & Recruiting	2010	22
GRAYCE	United Kingdom	Management Consulting	2012	21
Amazon	United States	Information Technology & Services	1994	21

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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 development job market in Europe has shown significant variances across different countries, particularly in the availability of talent relative to job openings. In the United Kingdom, there are a notable number of job openings for Software PHP Engineers. When compared to countries like Germany and France, the UK displays a tighter talent pool, indicating a more competitive landscape for hiring. For instance, while Germany offers a more favorable jobs-to-talent ratio, making it easier to secure qualified candidates, the UK presents challenges that may complicate recruitment efforts. As a result, hiring managers in the UK, especially in cities like Manchester, may need to adopt more aggressive recruitment strategies to attract top Software PHP talent.

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 a robust presence of Mid-Senior level professionals, accounting for 43% of available positions. Entry-level roles represent 26% of the market, indicating ongoing opportunities for emerging talent. Additionally, Associate positions constitute 8% of the job landscape, highlighting a hierarchy that supports career progression within the industry.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the employment type distribution for engineering roles reveals that 91% of positions are full-time, demonstrating a strong preference for permanent roles among employers. Contract roles account for 9% of the market, while part-time positions represent a modest 3%. This data underscores the emphasis on long-term commitment from Software PHP Engineers, particularly in cities like Manchester.

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 PHP Engineers in the United Kingdom reveals significant insights for hiring managers in Manchester and beyond. A substantial portion of the hiring process, specifically 1,960 candidates, required 30 days to complete, indicating a prevalent timeline for recruitment in this role. Furthermore, 1,399 candidates were hired within 25 days, highlighting a competitive landscape. Notably, a marked decrease can be seen in the volume of hires as the time to hire extends beyond 35 days, where counts drop to 942 and further to 542 by 40 days. This trend emphasizes the necessity for effective recruitment strategies to attract top talent swiftly in the Software PHP job market.

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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 context of the Software PHP Engineers job market trends in the United Kingdom, London remains the leading city for job openings, accounting for 92% of the total relevant roles. Meanwhile, Manchester holds a significant position with 8% of the job openings, totaling 587 positions. Other cities, such as Leeds and Cambridge, contribute a smaller share, with 5% and 5% respectively. This data underscores Manchester as a vital hub for Software PHP Developer opportunities, highlighted in the accompanying chart.

Most sought after technologies in Manchester for PHP

Key technologies for PHP Engineers

In the current landscape of the Software PHP job market in United Kingdom Manchester, the prevalence of specific technologies is notable. PHP remains the cornerstone, with a frequency of 3,933, followed by JavaScript at 2,066, which continues to be essential for dynamic web applications. MySQL, with a frequency of 1,161, is crucial for database management, while Laravel, a popular PHP framework, is frequently utilized, boasting a usage frequency of 812. The chart accompanying this paragraph illustrates these trends and highlights the dominant position of these technologies in shaping hiring strategies for Software PHP Engineers.

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