UK IT Vacancies Jump 42% in Q2 as Tech Hiring Rebounds From Annual Low
The News
Research from Robert Half and Textkernel, based on analysis of over 1.41 million UK job postings from Q3 2024 to Q2 2026, finds IT vacancies jumped 42% on a quarterly basis — the strongest sectoral rebound — though they remain 20% below June 2025 levels. Manufacturing posted both quarterly and annual growth, with vacancies up 18% on the quarter and 21% year-on-year. Logistics rose 24% quarterly and utilities 21%. Phil Boden, Market Director at Robert Half, noted that while year-on-year vacancy levels remain lower across many professional sectors, quarterly data points to a more resilient recruitment market than earlier in the year, with demand concentrated where organisations have critical skills needs.
Why It Matters
The 42% quarterly jump in IT vacancies is the kind of number that demands attention — but the 20% annual decline is the one that frames it. TA leaders hiring into tech roles are seeing a genuine quarter-on-quarter demand surge, likely driven by AI-related build-out, but from a depressed base. The concurrent strength in manufacturing and logistics suggests this isn't a single-sector story; it's a broad, if modest, recovery in operational hiring. For teams that have been running lean on tech recruiters, the question is whether this quarter's surge is the start of a sustained upswing or a catch-up burst after a frozen Q1.
Taking Action
All action is situated in your corporate context. These are starting points, not prescriptions — choose what fits.
Connect
Who to talk with in your enterprise
Your tech hiring managers. If IT vacancies are up 42% quarter-on-quarter across the UK market, ask your engineering and product leaders whether their own requisition pipeline reflects the same trajectory — and whether your recruiter-to-requisition ratio can handle the volume if it continues. Your head of talent acquisition. The annual 20% decline means your tech recruiting team is likely still sized for a slower market. A sustained quarterly surge without adjusted capacity will push time-to-fill back up at the worst possible moment.
Inspect
What to take a closer look at
Compare your Q2 tech requisition volume against Q1 and against the same quarter last year. If your internal data mirrors the market's 42% quarterly jump, check your tech recruiter headcount ratio — anything above 15-20 open reqs per recruiter in high-demand tech roles is a burnout and quality risk. Also verify that your IT salary benchmarks have been updated; starting pay is rising, and stale benchmarks will lose you offers at the final stage.
Reflect
What to think about more deeply
If IT vacancies surged 42% in a single quarter while still sitting 20% below last year, is your recruiting capacity sized for the market you're in now — or the one you were in twelve months ago?