The UK’s IT and technology sectors are experiencing a resurgence in hiring, with over half of employers planning to expand their permanent workforce in the first half of 2025, according to recent data from international recruitment firm Robert Half. This marks a seven-percentage-point increase from the latter half of 2024, indicating a positive shift following last year’s industry layoffs.
The Hiring Intentions survey also highlights a growing demand for temporary roles: 34% of businesses intend to boost contract positions, and 43% aim to recruit more project-based professionals in the coming six months. These figures represent increases of nine and five percentage points, respectively.
Craig Freedberg, Regional Director at Robert Half, commented on these findings:
“Despite a tough year in 2024, our analysis suggests that IT and technology hiring is rebounding, which is good news for the UK economy as a whole. Employment trends in this remit often pre-empt broader growth in other areas, and we hope that this optimism will trickle into other specialisms, providing some much-needed optimism in amongst the recent doom and gloom.”
However, the survey also reveals ongoing challenges. A significant 78% of employers express concerns about finding qualified talent in IT and technology. The limited talent pool, exacerbated by last year’s layoffs and persistent skills shortages, means businesses must intensify efforts to attract top professionals.
Freedberg added:
“While there were layoffs last year, the pool of talent available for employers remains limited, largely due to the growing skills shortages across specialist IT and technology remits. Our data shows that 78% of employers have concerns around finding the qualified talent they need in IT and technology. These individuals will still be feeling the effects of the upheaval last year and may be reluctant to make a career move, meaning that businesses will have to work much harder to engage with and attract top talent.”
This rebound in hiring intentions suggests a renewed confidence in the UK’s tech industry, signaling potential growth and stability in the sector for the year ahead.
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