VacancySoft Insights February 2026

The UK telecoms labour market showed firmer activity in 2025, though the improvement in vacancy volumes did not translate evenly into hiring outcomes. Monthly data shows vacancies rising through the year, with a clear build from spring into summer and a peak around mid-year levels before easing slightly towards the end of 2025.

That upward trend reflects continued investment across fibre rollout and mobile infrastructure, which remains the core driver of demand. However, the increase in advertised roles masks a more restrained hiring environment. Many positions remained open for longer or did not convert into hires at all, pointing to a more cautious approach among employers despite improved demand signals.

The structure of demand also reveals where activity is concentrated. Network engineering remains the most sought-after discipline, leading all other roles in vacancy volumes. It is followed by IT-focused functions such as project management, software engineering and technical support, underlining the continued reliance on both infrastructure and digital capability. Roles such as IT Manager, Service Manager and Architect also feature prominently, indicating demand for senior oversight alongside delivery functions.

This mix reflects a sector in transition. Engineering still underpins telecoms hiring, but IT is taking on a larger role. In 2025, six of the ten most in-demand positions were IT-related, signalling a shift away from purely infrastructure-led recruitment towards more integrated, software-driven capability.

The scale of this shift is evident in year-on-year growth. IT vacancies increased by 16% in 2025, outperforming many other parts of the sector. This reflects the growing importance of software development, systems integration and cybersecurity as telecoms networks become more data-driven and operationally complex. As infrastructure evolves, so too does the skill set required to support it.

Engineering demand, while steady, has been more constrained by supply. Shortages of experienced professionals continue to limit hiring outcomes, particularly in network-focused roles. This has contributed to the widening gap between vacancy levels and actual hires, as firms compete for a relatively small pool of qualified candidates while remaining selective in their recruitment decisions.

Monthly IT vacancy data further highlights the strength of demand in digital roles. Volumes remained consistently elevated throughout 2025 compared with previous years, reinforcing the view that telecoms is increasingly aligned with the broader technology market. At the same time, engineering vacancy trends show a similar upward trajectory, though at a lower absolute level, pointing to parallel growth across both disciplines.

Underlying these trends is a steady pipeline of investment. Government-backed initiatives, including Project Gigabit, alongside continued private capital deployment, are providing longer-term visibility for employers. Telecoms has become a central part of the UK’s industrial strategy, with funding commitments supporting nationwide connectivity and sustaining demand for specialist skills.

Even so, hiring behaviour remains measured. Employers are balancing long-term project needs with short-term cost pressures, leading to longer recruitment cycles and greater scrutiny of candidates. In practice, this has meant that rising vacancy volumes have not been matched by a proportional increase in placements.

Looking ahead, 2026 begins from a higher base than previous years, with January levels already indicating continued demand across both engineering and IT roles. The direction of travel remains positive, but the pace of hiring will depend on whether employer confidence strengthens beyond current levels.

For now, the telecoms labour market sits in a transitional phase. Demand is present and supported by structural investment, but hiring remains selective. The result is a market where vacancy growth signals intent, rather than certainty, and where converting demand into hires is becoming the central challenge for employers.

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Please contact the Telecoms Team
Anya Brown – [email protected]
Richard Giles – [email protected]
Murray West – [email protected]
Efthymios Antoniadis – [email protected]

About Fuel Recruitment
Fuel Recruitment is a technical recruitment consultancy with 20+ years
of experience in telecoms. We specialise in placing expert professionals
across engineering, delivery, and digital transformation roles.