The 2020s so far have seen monumental changes in how people work, and 2025 is shaping up to be no different. Continued rapid advancements and investment in artificial intelligence are reshaping the world of work before our eyes, at the same time as governmental interventions increase already challenging financial and operational pressures on businesses across the UK.
Betsy Williamson, founder and CEO of Core-Asset Consulting – the recruitment partner for financial and professional services firms across the UK – explains: “2025 brings with it a host of both opportunities and challenges for businesses. Key factors influencing the business environment include economic inactivity, demographic pressures, talent retention and technological advancements.”
“Visionary leadership and bold investment will define success in 2025. And finding the right skills to navigate these headwinds is business critical.”
With this in mind, here are five functions and associated roles expected to be most in demand in 2025:
Technology integration and automation
There will be an even greater and increasing reliance on AI, data analytics and automation in 2025 to enhance business efficiency and speed up and support decision-making.
Roles in demand in 2025 will include:
- AI specialist
- Data analyst
- Digital transformation lead
Regulatory compliance and risk management
An increasingly complex regulatory environment, and subsequent focus on businesses’ operational resilience, will drive demand for compliance expertise.
Roles in demand in 2025 will include:
- Compliance officer
- Regulatory analyst
- Operational risk manager
Cybersecurity and digital resilience
Heightened threats to digital infrastructure, in addition to incoming regulation around fraud prevention, necessitate advanced cybersecurity measures for businesses of all sizes.
Roles in demand in 2025 will include:
- Cybersecurity specialist
- Technology risk manager
- IT governance lead
Strategic change management
Change has been the biggest constant in the 2020s so far. Navigating organisational transformation and unlocking productivity to help ease slowing growth will be priorities for all businesses.
Roles in demand in 2025 will include:
- Business change analyst
- Strategy consultant
- Transformation project manager
Complex tax management
Recently announced changes to UK tax policies, plus anticipated U.S. government policies to come, will require international and intercompany tax expertise. There’ll also be increased demand for personal tax specialists amidst new UK policies from April 2024.
Roles in demand in 2025 will include:
- Global tax specialists
- Intercompany specialists
- Personal tax specialists in practise and wealth management
Betsy Williamson, founder and CEO of Core-Asset Consulting, concludes: “Whilst these roles will be particularly in demand in 2025, there will be specific skills that businesses are looking for candidates to demonstrate when interviewing – more so than experience.
“With the labour market and the world of work exceptionally volatile right now, businesses need workers that are able to constantly adapt, pivot and upskill in order to navigate known and unknown challenges ahead. Professionals that are able to demonstrate these skills will set themselves up for the most success when it comes to career progression in 2025.”
