Software Developer Hiring Trends in Southampton, United Kingdom

This report was last updated on Jul 20, 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 engineer job market in United Kingdom Southampton is experiencing notable fluctuations in job openings, with a peak of 17 new roles posted in week 21, illustrating the need for agile recruitment strategies to navigate turnover.
The talent pool for software engineers in Southampton is diverse, with a significant presence of mid-senior level positions comprising 43% of job openings, indicating a robust demand for experienced developers in the region.
Top hiring companies include Canonical, TieTalent, and Bending Spoons, highlighting key players in the software industry that are actively recruiting engineers in United Kingdom Southampton.
Current job openings indicate a competitive market for software developers, making it essential for hiring managers to implement effective recruitment strategies to acquire top talent amid high demand.
With a median time to hire of 30 days, CTOs and engineering managers should align their recruiting processes to this timeline to enhance their chances of securing qualified candidates in the thriving Southampton tech sector.

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

In the last 12 weeks, the Software Engineer job market in United Kingdom Southampton has demonstrated noticeable fluctuations. The peak occurred in week 21, with 17 new positions posted, contrasting sharply with subsequent weeks where counts dipped, such as 1 job in week 26. During this period, a total of 4 Software Developer roles were closed on average, suggesting a consistent turnover that hiring managers need to navigate. Compared to other regions in Europe, Southampton's market showcases unique dynamics that warrant tailored recruitment strategies for CTOs aiming to attract top talent amidst fluctuating demand.

Who else is hiring for software Engineers in United Kingdom:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
TieTalent	Switzerland	Information Technology & Services	2017	79
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	77
Bending Spoons	Italy	Information Technology & Services	2013	77
targetjobs UK	null	null	null	36
Oliver Bernard	United Kingdom	Staffing & Recruiting	2010	35
e-Careers	null	null	null	31
GRAYCE	United Kingdom	Management Consulting	2012	30
JPMorganChase	United States	Financial Services	null	27
Arm	United Kingdom	Semiconductors	1990	26
Mindrift	United States	Information Technology & Services	null	25

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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 current software engineers job market trends in the United Kingdom, particularly in Southampton, reflect a competitive hiring landscape. With a significant number of job openings available and a talent pool that exhibits varying degrees of availability, the ratio of jobs to the talent pool is critical for hiring managers to consider. For instance, countries such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands also showcase robust job markets for software engineers, yet the competition for talent often remains high across Europe. Specifically, in the United Kingdom, the ratio suggests that hiring talent is becoming increasingly challenging, given the rising demand for software developer opportunities in the region. As hiring strategies evolve, particularly for CTOs in Southampton's tech sector, understanding these dynamics will be essential for attracting and retaining top talent.

Seniority distribution of Software Engineer job openings in Southampton

Seniority Distribution of Software Engineering Jobs in Southampton

In the Software Engineers job market trends in United Kingdom Southampton, the distribution of job seniority reflects a notable emphasis on Mid-Senior level positions, which account for 43% of the roles. Entry level positions represent 20% of the market, while Internship roles comprise 7%. This distribution indicates a robust opportunity for Mid-Senior level Software Developers, suggesting a trend in hiring Senior Software Developers in United Kingdom Southampton.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom's software engineering job market, full-time positions dominate, comprising 91% of the available roles. Contract positions make up 9%, while part-time opportunities account for 3%. This distribution underscores a significant preference for stable, long-term employment among Software 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 distribution for software jobs in the United Kingdom reveals significant insights for hiring managers in the tech sector. A notable peak occurs at the 30-day mark, with 2,085 candidates hired, indicating that many organizations are aligning their recruitment strategies to this timeframe. Following this, the hiring trend sees a decline, with 1,442 hires at 25 days and 1,204 at 15 days. Notably, the demand continues with substantial counts up to 40 days. Understanding these timeframes will assist CTOs and engineering managers in formulating effective recruitment strategies tailored to the software job market trends in United Kingdom Southampton and beyond.

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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 United Kingdom, the distribution of Software Engineer job openings reveals a significant concentration in London, which accounts for 91% of the total job market. Following London, Manchester represents 9% of the openings, while other cities, including Leeds and Cambridge, contribute marginally, with 5% and 5% respectively. This concentration highlights the capital's dominance in the Software job market.

Most sought after technologies in Southampton for Software

Key technologies for Software Engineers

In analyzing the Software Engineers job market trends in the United Kingdom, particularly in Southampton, it is evident that certain technologies are increasingly prevalent among job postings. JavaScript leads the way with 7,732 occurrences, followed closely by Python at 9,067. Java also remains vital, appearing 9,722 times. Other notable technologies include React, with 5,925 mentions, and SQL, reflecting a strong emphasis on both front-end and back-end development skills. For those hiring in the region, this data highlights the significance of targeting candidates proficient in these core technologies, as depicted in the accompanying chart.

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