Research published by recruitment consultancy Morgan McKinley in partnership with Vacancysoft forecasts that London will see a 37% year-on-year rise in fintech vacancies in 2026, with the capital accounting for 70% of all fintech roles in the UK. The report signals a strong rebound in fintech employment after a cautious couple of years marked by layoffs and hiring freezes across the broader tech industry.

IT remains the cornerstone of fintech hiring, with technology vacancies projected to rise by 35% in 2026. Technology roles account for 41% of all fintech positions, with development and engineering continuing to dominate. Fintech, AI, data science, and cybersecurity are among the fastest-growing hiring categories as firms race to commercialise AI-driven products and services. The report identified a persistent talent shortage for candidates who combine finance domain knowledge with advanced technical skills such as machine learning, data engineering, and regulatory technology.

Risk and compliance hiring has also surged, rising nearly 26% year-on-year and accounting for more than half of all banking-related roles within fintech. This reflects the growing regulatory complexity facing fintech firms as they mature and scale into new markets — particularly in light of the FCA's expanding oversight of payments, BNPL, and digital assets.

Growth outside London remains positive but more modest, with regional markets projected to increase hiring by 16%. The report attributed London's dominance to lower interest rates, streamlined regulation, geopolitical uncertainty driving talent toward stable governance environments, and the city's established status as a global fintech hub.

"London is powering a new wave of fintech expansion," said Michael Moretti, Director of Technology at Morgan McKinley. "After a cautious couple of years, firms are now hiring with renewed conviction, especially across technology and compliance. The surge in demand for developers, engineers and specialist risk experts shows the sector is doubling down on innovation, resilience and scale."