Demand for talent in areas such as artificial intelligence, regulation, data reporting and other specialist skills pushed vacancies in Britain’s financial services sector up by 12% in 2025, according to recruitment firm Morgan McKinley. Firms increased hiring as they raced to keep pace with rapid technological change.
The year-on-year rise came despite a slowdown toward the end of the year, with hiring easing in the fourth quarter as global market volatility and uncertainty surrounding the government’s November budget made employers more cautious. This trend was highlighted in Morgan McKinley’s London Employment Monitor, a quarterly survey tracking financial services vacancies.
Software and computer services roles accounted for more than 16% of all vacancies, overtaking traditional areas such as investment management and banking, which each made up 15% of roles last year, said Mark Astbury, a director at the firm.
Meanwhile, demand for clerical and administrative staff fell by 16%, while broking roles dropped by 20% over the year, reflecting the growing impact of AI and automation in reducing the need for these positions.
Astbury said hiring momentum is expected to remain strong into the first quarter of this year, supported by relatively low unemployment at 5% and stable inflation of around 3.2%.
