This year we’ve noticed large changes in the tech market, and not particular in anyone’s favour.
More candidates, less jobs
With the economic uncertainty and rising National Insurance cost for businesses, companies are becoming more cautious when it comes to hiring. At present we’re seeing a large increase in candidates and just not enough jobs to place them all, and tech is not the only market to be impacted.
In terms of recruitment, the focus has shifted to supporting companies find the best talent for their team, and in many cases, the correct skillsets are still a tricky find! (We can blame the constant emerging technologies for this).
The ONS (Office for National Statistics) released the following statistics for March 2026.
- The UK unemployment rate for people aged 16 and above has increased in the last quarter and is above estimates of a year ago.
- The estimated number of vacancies fell by 6000 between Dec 25 and Feb 26.
- Estimates for pay-rolled employees in the UK fell by 96,000 (0.3%) between January 2025 and January 2026 but increased by 6,000 (0.0%) between December 2025 and January 2026.
Across multiple industrials we’re finding more professionals actively seeking work than the number of roles we have available. We’re seeing a higher demand for project managers and roles within sales, particularly Business Development Specialists; however, tech has seen a stabilisation pattern.
At a regional level major cities like Bristol (where we’re based) remain recruitment hotspots. This likely co-insides with more companies pushing for in-office working than we’ve seen in the years prior.
In a tricky market, your approach to opportunities matters.
- Map out your career goals and the skills you need to get there: this helps identify where to focus your efforts.
- Build on your experience and showcase achievements that highlight your readiness for new challenges.
- Target roles and companies where your expertise fits seamlessly
- Be adaptable: The job market is constantly changing, embrace new opportunities, even if they aren’t exactly what you expected
- Build your network: Engage with peers, industry leaders, and recruiters.
The job market is ever-changing, with lots of variables, create the right strategy and you can stay ahead.
If you’re a company where hiring has been impacted, have you thought about…
- Creating a strategic roadmap of who you need to get to where you need to go, this will help you see gaps within your talent team, and where extra pair of hands are needed.
- Promoting your staff within to support business needs and requirements.
- When finding candidates, focusing on those who have the skills and expertise to seamlessly fit within your team.
A revamp to your staffing strategy can support company growth. If you need consulting on your strategy, or help finding top talent, get in touch.
0117 450 7700
