Decline in UK tech job adverts threatens young talent pipeline

This rate of decline is significantly faster than the wider economy, where there has been a 31 per cent decline in adverts over the same period. The report links these trends to more tech roles being relocated overseas and the anticipated impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI).  

The slowdown has been particularly large for roles in areas like software development. Adverts for programmer jobs have fallen by almost 70 per cent between 2019/20 and 2024/25, with a particular acceleration in the decline over the last two years.

Looking beyond job adverts, the research shows there were fewer people working as software developers in 2024 than in 2023, the first time there has been a fall since 2006. 

This downturn will have implications for the talent pipeline into tech roles, particularly for young people:  

• Entry-level roles in tech have been particularly affected. Demand is now more focussed at senior levels, impacting entry-level opportunities for young talent. In programming, there are now four times as many adverts for senior roles as junior roles. The report warns that over time, a reduction in junior recruitment could feed through into shortages of experienced workers able to progress into senior-level tech roles. 
• Qualification barriers are on the rise. Because there is less competition for recruits, employers are being pickier, with a higher rate of tech jobs listing qualification requirements since 2022.    

The analysis is based on data from Adzuna, which captures 95 per cent of UK job adverts.   

Commenting on the research, NFER Research Director, Luke Bocock, said:

“The UK has long been a leader in tech innovation, but this report signals a worrying shift. 

“While economic challenges play a role, the sharp decline in tech job adverts points to deeper structural issues, including relentless competition from international markets and the emerging influence of AI.  

“If left unaddressed, these trends could limit career opportunities for young people.  

“This is not to say it is all bad news; voices in tech stress the need for developers with specialist skills, like AI. Roles in engineering (apart from software), science, and research have also held up relatively well since 2022.  

“If current trends continue, there will be some areas of growing demand for young people looking to enter the tech workforce, but there will be fewer opportunities overall.” 

James Turner, Chief Executive of The Hg Foundation, added:

“Tech continues to offer many opportunities for social mobility, but this research gives us serious pause for thought.   

“It is more important than ever to understand exactly which parts of the tech sector will grow and what skills and experiences young people are likely to need to access those jobs. As well as certain specialist expertise, many employers will also be looking for a flexible skillset which allows employees to adapt to a rapidly changing environment.   

“It is crucial that those from underrepresented backgrounds aren’t left behind as this unfolds and it makes the work of those engaged in widening access to opportunities in the tech sector even more important.” 

This report is the first in a wider research programme examining pathways into tech jobs and how skills requirements are evolving.   

The next phase will explore explanations for the trends and patterns reported in this study. It will collect the views from a representative sample of senior leaders and hiring managers within tech sectors.  

Wider research will explore access to jobs in tech in the recent educational and labour market data. It will look at how access to tech-related qualifications is changing over time, as well as the pathways those currently in the sector have followed. This analysis will be released in future reports this year.