According to data shared with City A.M., FinTech is the top performing category within the country's financial services industry when it comes to job vacancies in 2024, as investor confidence rises after a dip in recent years.

A report by recruiter Morgan McKinley and data firm Vacancysoft estimates that, if the trend continues, the number of vacancies in the market will be 37% higher in 2024 than 12 months ago.

London leads the way for openings overall, with a 61% year-on-year jump between January and April, and IT makes up the single largest area of recruitment at 41%. Two-thirds (67%) of those are based in the capital.

The focus on leveraging first-class innovation to supercharge both business and economic growth is underlined by the fact that the market sees a 41% increase in technology-focused roles, largely across development specialisms. Meanwhile, London also sees an 87% rise in risk and compliance posts, as the banks and financial services organisations grapple with the evolving nature of compliance obligations.

These figures come as the FinTech sector looks set for a funding rebound this year. Fuelled by investment across key players, it once again claims the top spot for UK startup investment after raising $1.4bn (£1.1bn) in Q1 2024.

Victoria Walmsley, Managing Director at report co-author Morgan McKinley, said: “As we navigate through 2024, the FinTech sector is experiencing dynamic shifts in recruitment, driven by technological advancements, regulatory changes and evolving consumer behaviours. The continuous push towards digital banking and heightened cybersecurity threats are key drivers of these trends. The FinTech sector is poised for sustained growth, with opportunities for remote and internationally diverse talent."

Wayne Johnson, CEO and co-founder, Encompass Corporation, commented: "These figures emphasise the importance of building on the talent pipeline within FinTech – and the technology industry overall – in the UK, as individuals from across disciplines have a critical part to play in delivering the innovation that is increasingly in demand.

"Having had to contend with a challenging economic backdrop in recent years, it remains important to build investor confidence in FinTech, given the necessity of its innovative solutions, and at a time when the technology behind these is evolving rapidly. We must continue to drive game-changing efficiencies for banks, with automation technology, for example, dramatically improving processes and output.

“Especially when considering key issues such as driving business growth and fighting financial crime, the latest in technology has a central role to play. With Corporate Digital Identity (CDI), for example, delivering ready-made customer profiles, institutions can boost customer experience and business opportunities by offering consistent compliance and risk mitigation. As innovation remains the top of the agenda for many, the industry - through talent, solutions and future potential - must continue to be viewed as ripe for investment in order to support digital transformation and power solution development, which can significantly impact the UK economy.”