The VacanCV UK Talent Report: What Our Data Shows About the Tech Skills Gap

Forget quarterly surveys and panels of "experts." At VacanCV, we are in a unique position to see what's really happening in the UK job market.

With thousands of new CVs and job applications processed on our platform every month, we have real-time, anonymised data on the skills candidates have, and the skills employers are desperately searching for.

We analysed over 50,000 UK tech sector data points from Q3 2025. Here's what we found.

Key Insight 1: The "Python vs. Java" Supply-Demand Crisis

The skills gap isn't just a buzzword; it's real.

The Data: We found that for every 10 senior roles posted requiring "Java," there are approximately 60 qualified applicants on our platform. For every 10 roles requiring "Python" (with a data science focus), there are only seven.

The Analysis: The demand for data-centric Python developers is massively outstripping supply. Companies hiring for these roles must be prepared for extreme competition, longer hiring times, and higher salary offers.

Key Insight 2: "Remote Work" Is Now the #1 Filter for Candidates

Is hybrid work dying? Not according to the candidates.

The Data: We analysed candidate behaviour in our Job Tracker. Job seekers are 50% more likely to save a job to their tracker if the title or summary includes the words "Remote," "Hybrid," or "Flexible."

The Analysis: Candidates are pre-filtering for flexibility. Employers who mandate a full 5-day return to the office are removing themselves from a huge portion of the talent pool before the candidate even reads the job description.

Key Insight 3: The Rise of "GenAI" as a Verifiable Skill

Last year, it was a "nice-to-have." Now, it's a core competency.

The Data: The number of CVs explicitly mentioning skills like "Prompt Engineering," "GenAI Tooling," or "LLM Integration" has increased by 400% since Q1.

The Analysis: This is no longer a buzzword. Candidates are actively upskilling and listing generative AI tools as a technical proficiency, just as they would "Adobe Photoshop" or "SQL." Employers need to quickly figure out what "AI skills" they actually need.

What This Means for UK Employers

The hiring market in 2026 is faster and more transparent than ever. To win, you can't rely on guesswork. You need to know:

...which of your "must-have" skills are actually "rare-to-find."
...how your remote work policy is impacting your talent pipeline.
...which new skills are emerging as critical competencies.

You don't just need an ATS. You need hiring data.