Explore the UK Ruby Talent Market with Our H1 2025 Report
This report offers insight into growth trends, regional shifts, and hiring dynamics within the UK’s Ruby engineering landscape.
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Ruby H1 2025 Talent Report
Holly Timings-Thompson
22nd Jul 2025
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Key Highlights
- Market Trends: Ruby remains the slowest-growing major language, with 4% YoY growth, slightly down from 5% last year. Still, in a slow overall market, this growth is a positive sign. Notably, Ruby talent is shifting northward, with cities like Manchester seeing growth as companies like BBC and Kraken expand outside London.
- Emerging Skills: Ruby remains a niche language, with few universities teaching it. As a result, senior roles dominate, and junior opportunities remain limited. Despite slightly declining salaries, Ruby professionals still command some of the highest average pay in the industry.
- Hiring Challenges: The talent pool remains small and senior-heavy. It's increasingly an employer's market, with companies securing talent at lower rates than in previous years.
- Consultant Insights: Companies like Cleo AI and Tembo Money (fresh off a Series B) are creating demand for Ruby engineers, especially in start-ups. Growth is modest but steady, with innovation and funding helping to sustain momentum.
- Future Outlook: While Ruby isn’t experiencing explosive growth, its specialised nature keeps demand high for experienced engineers, especially in fast-scaling product teams.