Gain essential insights into the UK Python talent market with our H2 2025 report. This in-depth guide explores how hiring dynamics have evolved in the second half of the year, highlighting the skills, sectors and strategies shaping Python recruitment in an increasingly competitive market.
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Python H2 2025 Talent Report
Aisling Fitzgerald
12th Jan 2026
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Key Highlights
- Market Trends: UK Python hiring accelerated throughout H2 2025, shifting firmly into a candidate-driven market. While finance and fintech remain core, growth is increasingly driven by AI-first companies, public sector technology programmes and product-led startups, with London leading investment and activity as demand spreads nationwide.
- Emerging Skills: Employers are prioritising versatile engineers who combine Python with JavaScript for full-stack delivery, alongside strong capabilities in AI, data and cloud. Product-focused, end-to-end skill sets are increasingly favoured over narrow specialisation.
- Hiring Challenges: Competition for experienced Python engineers has intensified, with median salaries rising and startups with fresh funding pushing offers higher. Employers are also rethinking assessment methods, moving away from take-home tasks towards live system design and skills-based interviews, while hybrid and on-site working models return to focus.
- Future Outlook: Demand is expected to remain strong into 2026, fuelled by continued AI adoption, significant government investment in public tech, and innovation across sectors such as energy, sports tech and digital infrastructure.