November Market Update 2025
Why is November suddenly the busiest month of the year for hiring?
After a busy Feb to June, we noticed a typically quiet summer, the market didn’t restart in September as expected. Instead, activity surged from the start of October. Now companies are trying to compress their 6 month H2 hiring plans into the next 4 weeks.
💡 6 trends we’re seeing on the ground as the year draws to a close:
1️⃣ November is now the peak hiring month for H2.
New roles, interviews, offers… it’s all accelerating. Many companies are requesting everything wrapped pre-Christmas so candidates can start in Jan or Feb 2026.
2️⃣ AI roles are driving demand
Companies are past exploring AI, and now they’re hiring with it in mind. Here’s where demand is the highest right now:
- Software Engineers with commercial or experimental AI exposure
- ML Engineers / Data Scientists
- Business Execs who can lead AI strategy (CTO, CPO, CEO with AI experience),
3️⃣ Two-tier job market
Where we see AI talent and hiring moving fast, recruitment for the rest of the industry is slow and stagnating, creating a two-tier job market.
4️⃣ The return-to-office standoff continues for Software Developers.
Companies want developers back onsite. Developers want to stay at home. The negotiation isn’t about salary anymore, often I’m seeing that the sticking point is how many days they’re expected in the office. It usually ends in a negotiation case by case.
My take? If you want the best developers, offer the best flexibility.
5️⃣ The November Budget = risk aversion stalling progress.
Financial decisions and sign-offs are being held until late November after the budget is announced. Boards want certainty before committing top headcount.
6️⃣ The UK Brain Drain has relocation planning on the up
More tech leaders are continuing conversations about relocating within the next 12 months. The US, the UAE and generally warmer, low-tax EU countries are coming up again and again.
🤔 Are you seeing any other trends influencing the industry as we head into 2026?
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