The picture is clear: employers are hiring for more senior, more technical work. In the financial services sector, recruitment was generally for Regulatory Qualification Framework (RQF) 6+ roles, rather than RQF 3 to 5 GOV.UK - Temporary Shortage List: Stage 2 report. In plain terms, RQF 6 sits at degree level, so firms are reaching for people with advanced qualifications and proven expertise.
That shift matters for anyone planning headcount. When demand concentrates at the top of the skills ladder, the pool of qualified people gets tighter and the competition for them gets sharper. Banking sits right at the centre of this, which is why banking roles take the largest share of UK finance hiring.
The demand skews towards higher-skilled, regulated work. Recruitment in financial services was generally for RQF 6+ roles rather than RQF 3 to 5 GOV.UK - Temporary Shortage List: Stage 2 report, which points to appetite for qualified specialists over entry-level hires.
Think risk, compliance, regulatory reporting, analysis and relationship management: the kind of roles where a degree-level qualification and sector knowledge are the baseline, not a bonus. For employers, that means job briefs need to be precise about the qualifications and regulatory experience each role genuinely requires.
Start with the qualification bar. Because hiring leans towards RQF 6+ roles GOV.UK - Temporary Shortage List: Stage 2 report, screen for the right level of qualification early so you are not working through unsuitable applications later.
Speed and precision win here. The firms that shortlist fast and keep people informed are the ones that land the specialists everyone else is chasing.
Specialist hiring needs to be quick and precise. Our recruitment agent manages recruitment end to end for 8% on a successful hire, with no monthly fee and no upfront cost, through Reed.ai. If you are hiring in financial services, start a role with us today and see your shortlist.
