Regional disparities in recruitment highlight increasing economic imbalances across the UK. In 2024, London was the only region to see YoY growth, boosting its share of total vacancies from 34.4% to 36.8%.
After a subdued 2023, the UK’s life sciences industry saw stabilised recruitment in 2024, with vacancies rising 5.2% year-on-year to 7,521.
Amid political transition and economic recovery, 2024 proved largely positive for the UK legal sector, with vacancies rising 14.2% across England and Wales. A post-election surge in M&A activity, especially large-cap buyouts, drove demand for legal professionals, aided by falling interest rates.
AI adoption into insurance is accelerating as businesses optimise processes to improve outcomes while streamlining headcounts, with claims in particular being impacted. As a result, despite a year where the sector saw record profits, vacancies have fallen by 11.7% in 2024 compared to the year before.
The Government initiative to invest in AI-related infrastructure is at a time when the industry is accelerating away and while the UK remains a global leader, the planned investment will facilitate further growth and hiring.
The combination of increased investment in AI, political shifts in the UK and falling interest rates has made 2024 a pivotal year for the finance sector.
