Financial services keeps growing its payrolled headcount, and the pattern behind that growth tells us a lot about where the sector is heading. The demand is not spread evenly across every job. It's weighted towards higher-skilled, qualified work. In the Financial Services sector, recruitment was generally for Regulatory Qualification Framework (RQF) 6+ roles, rather than RQF 3 to 5 roles, according to the Temporary Shortage List: Stage 2 report GOV.UK - Temporary Shortage List: Stage 2 report.
In plain terms, RQF 6+ maps to degree-level and above. So when finance firms add roles, they're often reaching for people with advanced qualifications and specialist knowledge, not entry-level numbers to make up a team. That shapes how long a search takes and how competitive it feels.
The clearest signal is the skill level. Hiring is concentrated in RQF 6+ roles rather than RQF 3 to 5 roles, as set out in the Temporary Shortage List: Stage 2 report GOV.UK - Temporary Shortage List: Stage 2 report. That points to a market where firms compete for a smaller, more qualified pool of people.
Why does this matter for you as an employer? When demand sits at the top of the qualification ladder, the people you want are usually already in work and not actively searching. You're not just posting a role and waiting. You're reaching people who need a reason to move, and doing it faster than everyone else chasing the same shortlist.
Start by being precise about the qualification and the regulatory requirements the role genuinely needs. For RQF 6+ positions, a vague brief wastes everyone's time. Spell out the specialism, the certifications, and the parts of the job that are non-negotiable, so every conversation counts.
Next, move quickly and keep people informed. When you're reaching qualified people who aren't actively looking, a slow or silent process loses them. Set clear stages, give feedback fast, and make the interview easy to book. Speed and clarity are how you win someone who has options.
When the roles you're filling sit at the qualified end of the market, reach matters. We search a database of 15 million people and surface a ranked shortlist in under 30 seconds, so you can act while the right people are still available. Our recruitment agent manages recruitment end to end for 8% on a successful hire, with no monthly fee and no upfront cost. Tell Reed.ai about the role you're hiring for and we'll get started today.
