VacancySoft Insights May 2026

Demand for telecoms engineering talent continues to increase across industry, with Real Estate leading the way and accounting for 34.6% of activity so far this year. Professional Services represents a further 21.2%, while the Public Sector accounts for 21.1%, highlighting the broad range of sectors competing for telecoms talent. As buildings become more connected and technology-led, the skills required across the sector continue to evolve.

Several factors are driving this shift. Smart buildings require stronger network infrastructure, while data centres are becoming a major part of real estate investment. PropTech platforms rely on reliable connectivity, and large commercial buildings increasingly operate more like technology campuses. AI and IoT are also increasing demand for fibre, wireless and edge infrastructure. As a result, the gap between real estate and digital infrastructure continues to narrow, creating new opportunities for telecoms professionals and reinforcing the importance of connectivity across a growing range of industries.

Regional hiring patterns present a contrasting picture. Technical vacancies across IT and Engineering are increasing in London while falling across much of the rest of the UK. Much of the growth outside the capital is currently being driven by public sector investment, while private sector investment into the sector continues to slow. This is creating a markedly different hiring market depending on location, with London continuing to attract a significant share of investment and recruitment activity.

The uplift in London activity is particularly notable when compared with previous years. Engineering hiring volumes among the top 50 telecoms firms are up by more than 100%, providing a strong indication of wider market conditions. Activity has gathered pace throughout the year, with April emerging as the busiest month so far. If current trends continue, demand is expected to remain elevated as organisations continue investing in digital infrastructure, network upgrades and connectivity projects.

Cybersecurity is also becoming an increasingly important area of recruitment. Demand for IT Security talent is rising across larger telecoms firms as security becomes a core part of network strategy and business resilience rather than a supporting function. The continued expansion of 5G, growing regulatory requirements and the increasing scale of connected devices are all contributing to greater focus on security across telecoms infrastructure.

IoT remains a major driver of this trend. As more devices connect to networks, the attack surface continues to expand, bringing greater complexity and higher
expectations around resilience. Security is increasingly being built into network planning, investment and delivery from the outset. As a result, IT Security hiring is already becoming a strategic priority across the sector and is expected to remain a key theme throughout 2026.

The same trend can be observed within IT Development. London’s share of development roles has increased to 59% so far this year, compared with 48% in 2023. While activity may begin to equalise over time, the concentration of hiring within the capital remains significant. Current forecasts suggest that, if activity continues at its present pace, London could record 17% more development vacancies in 2026 than last year.

Among employers, BT remains the leading organisation hiring for IT and Engineering roles across the telecoms sector. Utility Warehouse is recording the fastest year-on-year growth in activity, while Vodafone, Qube GB and Motorola Solutions also remain important sources of demand. Meanwhile, TalkTalk’s recent customer growth is expected to support further recruitment as telecoms firms continue investing in networks, infrastructure and digital capabilities to meet growing connectivity requirements.