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Data and AI Job Market Review

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There is a lot being said about data and AI hiring at the moment ...but from our perspective as a recruitment business working across the UK, EU and USA, the reality is way more nuanced than the rhetoric around whether “the market is flying” or “the market has stalled” (we’ve heard both recently during conversations with our community) What we’d say, candidly, is this that the market is active, but it is selective and that has consequences both on the hiring side as well as for those looking to move on in their career. In the UK, the ONS view in January and February 2026 does not suggest any real rebound yet. In the January release, vacancies edged up to 734,000 for October to December 2025, which was only a modest increase on the previous rolling quarter. Then in the February release, vacancies moved to 726,000 for November 2025 to January 2026, slightly higher than the comparable earlier period, but lower than the 734,000 reported a month before. So, the direction of travel i...
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UK Data and AI Job Market Trends

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What’s coming for the UK Data and AI Job Market? Trends, Predictions & What to Watch As we move into another year, the UK tech landscape is undergoing a fascinating transformation. On one hand, there are clear signs of economic strain: hiring across many industries is slowing, businesses are exercising caution and junior-level opportunities are thinning out. But on the other, there’s a growing hunger for strategic tech investment, particularly in the areas of data engineering, AI and cloud infrastructure. While the general job market may feel cool to the touch, the specialised corners of the technology profession are not. Roles that sit at the intersection of cloud, data and AI are not only surviving the economic slowdown, they’re thriving in it. Let’s explore what’s really going on. Job vacancies reportedly declined steadily through the second half of last year, and unemployment crept up to its highest level in four years, sitting at around 5.1%. Business confidence took a...
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How data leadership is changing

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Poor management is now the number one reason data professionals consider leaving their roles The State of Data report shows that poor management is now the number one reason data professionals consider leaving their roles, above salary, workload and flexibility. To address issues around leadership skills here are some predictions that may help the best leaders take competitive advantage. Prediction 1: “Translator” roles will become more formal The most effective data leaders today are those who bridge the gap between technical and business teams and advocate for data at board level. On that note whilst they are there, the best ones also protect teams from unrealistic expectations. Next year, there could be more formalised translator roles like Data Product Managers, Analytics Leads, Head of Data Value, etc. These roles will be ideal for senior analysts and engineers who are strong communicators, people who enjoy stakeholder engagement as much as technical problem-solving...
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Skill predictions for the data industry

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The data from the State of Data report shows that focus may shift next year The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source. source https://www.kdrtalentsolutions.com/skill-predictions-for-the-data-industry
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What data talent wants

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Flexibility is Non-Negotiable - what data professionals really want from hybrid working in 2025 In the early days of remote work, flexibility was a perk. In 2025, it’s a dealbreaker. This year’s State of Data 2025 report makes that crystal clear: 63% of UK data professionals say they would consider leaving their job if hybrid flexibility were reduced. That’s not a soft preference. That’s a hard line in the sand and a clear signal to employers. What the Data Says While most professionals still work between 1–3 days per week in the office, expectations have changed. The hybrid model isn’t just about location anymore, it’s about purpose. Are team days being used effectively? Are office requirements tied to collaboration, client-facing needs or development goals, or just legacy thinking? Is flexibility offered equally, or are policies manager-dependent? The report reveals that role-based, purpose-driven presence policies are increasingly preferred and organisations embr...
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AI Implementation blockers - The State of Data Series

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What’s Really Blocking (AI) Progress in 2025? In an industry that moves fast and talks faster, it’s easy to assume that the biggest obstacles to data and AI progress are abstract: fear of job loss, confusion about AI’s purpose, or a lack of executive buy-in. But this year’s State of Data 2025 report paints a more grounded picture, one that’s both more practical and more solvable. The top 3 blockers in 2025 are operational, not existential When asked what’s really holding them back, UK data professionals didn’t cite hype or hesitation. They pointed to tangible operational challenges: Poor data quality (28%) Lack of in-house AI skills (21%) Managing stakeholder expectations (16%) These are not philosophical barriers. They are process, skill and communication gaps that many high-performing organisations are already tackling head-on. Why This Matters The shift from cultural to operational blockers signals an industry that’s maturing. Previous blockers are being rep...
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Data Usage Trends - The State of Data Series

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Data usage is improving, but it’s not because of more tools For years, improving data usage has often been seen as a tooling problem: better platforms, smarter dashboards, more automation. But the 2025 edition of The State of Data suggests something different and far more foundational, is happening. A Quiet Revolution in Data Usage This year, 67% of UK respondents said their organisation’s data usage has improved year-on-year, a promising statistic in a landscape still shaped by complexity, disruption and economic caution. So what’s driving this shift? Not new platforms. Not bigger teams. Not AI (yet). Instead, 42% of respondents cited “clear definitions of what data is needed and why” as the strongest reason for the improvement, more than any other factor listed. That’s significant. And it reveals something important: the most impactful changes are coming from the alignment between people and purpose, not software and spend. Clarity over complexity When teams u...
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