Ryan FowlerThe UK banking sector is seeing renewed momentum after two subdued years, with vacancy volumes forecast to rise 11% in 2025.
London is set to lead this recovery with a 15% increase in hiring, reinforcing its position as the country’s primary financial hub.
Recruitment peaked in July before easing in August, reflecting both seasonal patterns and shifting workforce cycles as automation plays a greater role.
Regional demand has remained comparatively steady, pointing to a broader, if uneven, rebound across the country.
Technology and operational skills are at the forefront of recruitment priorities. IT Management has emerged as the fastest-growing discipline, with vacancies up 43%.
Demand for development and engineering roles has increased 26% year on year, while operations hiring is up 34% as banks scale AI-enabled processes.
Risk and compliance roles are largely unchanged at 1%, highlighting the effect of automation on regulatory functions.
London continues to account for nearly half of all banking recruitment, its share approaching 50% for the first time since the pandemic, driven by major transformation projects and AI investment.
Glasgow has seen vacancy volumes rise 50% while Belfast posted a 40% increase, underlining the rise of regional hubs. In contrast, Edinburgh fell 7% and the North East recorded the sharpest drop at 29%.
Mark Astbury, director at Morgan McKinley, said: “After a subdued two years, the UK banking sector is now firmly back in growth mode.
“What we are seeing in 2025 goes beyond recovery – banks are investing in AI-first infrastructures, which is driving demand for IT management, engineering and operations talent.
“London remains the powerhouse of hiring, but the rapid growth of hubs like Belfast and Glasgow shows how technology and operations talent is reshaping the industry across the UK.
“This rebound is not simply about recovery – it is about reinvention, resilience and long-term competitiveness.”
Hiring strategies among major institutions are diverging. JPMorgan is expanding recruitment by 25% to support AI, risk and data-led transformation, while Barclays has reported a 44% increase through a focus on corporate banking and graduate programmes.
“Visa has recorded the sharpest rise, with hiring up 367% on the back of digital payments and security growth, and Deutsche Bank has lifted vacancies 52% in machine learning and infrastructure.
