Agency Partners

Software Developer Hiring Trends in Oxford, 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 Engineers job market trends in the United Kingdom, specifically in Oxford, indicate a growing demand, with a notable fluctuation in job openings over the past three months. In weeks 14 and 15 alone, there were 15 and 18 new positions posted respectively, reflecting peak hiring activity.
  • Currently, the Oxford market exhibits a tight competition for software engineering roles, evidenced by an average of 9 job closures per week, pointing to challenges in filling available positions efficiently.
  • Major technology firms such as Canonical, GRAYCE, and Hunter Bond are leading the recruitment landscape, with 75, 31, and 29 roles respectively, showcasing the robust hiring practices within the tech sector.
  • The talent pool appears to be competitive, with the median time to hire for Software Engineers in the United Kingdom recorded at 29 days, necessitating swift and strategic recruitment strategies from CTOs and hiring managers.
  • As London dominates the software job market with 91% of job openings, cities like Manchester, Leeds, and Cambridge present alternative avenues for recruitment, albeit with significantly lower share, making targeted approaches essential for effective hiring.
Number of roles opened and closed for Software Engineers in Oxford in the last 3 months

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

In the past 12 weeks, the Software Engineers job market in United Kingdom, particularly in Oxford, has exhibited considerable fluctuations. Notably, there was a significant increase in job openings for Software Developer roles during weeks 14 and 15, with 15 and 18 positions posted respectively, indicating a peak in hiring demand. However, contrasted with the average number of jobs closed weekly, which peaked at 9 closures in week 20, the market appears to be experiencing a tightening effect, suggesting potential challenges in filling these positions. This trend aligns with broader European markets, where hiring rates for Senior Software Developers are showing similar volatility, necessitating strategic recruitment approaches for CTOs 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

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 software engineers job market in Europe exhibits notable variations among countries, particularly in the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. In the United Kingdom, the ratio of available talent to job openings indicates increased competition for skilled software engineers, suggesting a challenging hiring landscape. Conversely, countries like Germany and France demonstrate a more favorable talent-to-job opening ratio, making it relatively easier for hiring managers to source candidates. In Oxford, the software job market reflects these trends, where recruitment strategies for CTOs must adapt to efficiently attract and retain top talent amid growing demand for software developer opportunities. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for navigating the complexities of hiring senior software developers in the competitive European technology landscape.

Seniority distribution of Software Engineer job openings in Oxford

Seniority Distribution of Software Engineering Jobs in Oxford

In the software job market in United Kingdom Oxford, the seniority distribution reflects a diverse set of opportunities for candidates. Currently, 54% of positions are at the Mid-Senior level, occupying the largest share of the market. Entry-level roles comprise 27%, indicating a solid influx of emerging talent. Meanwhile, Associate positions account for 7%, showcasing a smaller yet significant segment of the workforce.

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 majority of positions are full-time, comprising 89% of the total employment types analyzed. This is followed by contract roles, which make up 8%, indicating a solid demand for flexible job arrangements. Part-time positions account for 2% of the market, highlighting a limited but present option for those seeking reduced hours in software development.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in United Kingdom

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The time to hire for Software Engineer positions in the United Kingdom demonstrates varied distribution patterns that are critical for hiring managers to consider. A significant portion of candidates, approximately 23% of hires, are secured within 25 days, indicating an active job market that predominantly favors quicker hiring cycles. However, as the hiring timeline extends beyond 30 days, one observes a steep decline in candidate acquisition, with the demand tapering off as the time to hire surpasses 40 days. This trend reinforces the need for effective recruitment strategies tailored for CTOs and tech leads focusing on reducing hiring timelines, particularly in competitive regions like Oxford. Understanding these timeframes can aid in optimizing talent acquisition processes and enhancing the overall efficiency of software job recruitment in the United Kingdom.

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 software engineers job market shows a significant concentration in London, which accounts for 91% of the total job openings. Following London, Manchester contributes 3% to the software job market, while Leeds and Cambridge make up 1% and 1%, respectively. This distribution underscores the dominance of London as the leading hub for software developer opportunities in the region, as illustrated in the accompanying chart.

Most sought after technologies in Oxford for Software

Key technologies for Software Engineers

In the current software job market trends in the United Kingdom, particularly in Oxford, several technologies stand out in terms of frequency of usage. JavaScript leads with 7,878 occurrences, followed closely by Python, with 7,568 mentions, indicating a strong demand for engineers skilled in these languages. C#, .NET, and React also show significant usage frequencies at 6,038, 5,307, and 5,633 respectively, suggesting a preference for candidates with expertise in these frameworks. Furthermore, TypeScript (4,307) and SQL (4,922) are notable competencies that hiring managers should consider when evaluating potential hires. This technology landscape is visually represented in the accompanying chart, providing a comprehensive overview for those in recruitment and talent acquisition.

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.