A new report released by Tech Nation has revealed that vacancies in Edinburgh have reached a record high – with more than 20,000 roles becoming available in the past year.

The Tech Nation Visa Report 2022 has been launched to recognise and celebrate global tech talent in the UK. It revealed that 18% of all UK tech companies are founded by (at least one) non-UK national.

Non-UK founders are accelerating the growth of the tech sector across the UK, with tech companies founded by non-UK nationals raising almost 23% of all UK tech VC investment (£8bn) in 2021.

25% of the 2,500+ individuals endorsed for the Tech Nation Global Talent Visa are founders, and the majority are high-value employees working to drive the UK’s tech sector forward.

Almost 40% of all Tech Nation Global Talent Visa endorsees are working in non-technical, tech roles and over a quarter of people endorsed for a Tech Nation Global Talent Visa are working in emerging areas of UK tech, such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and data.

Fintech continues to be a dominant talent magnet, with over 20% of people endorsed working in this UK strength sector.

Global tech talent is needed to fill record levels of UK tech job vacancies, following record VC investment.

Tech vacancies have increased on a month-by-month basis over the last year, from 145,000 roles advertised in May 2021 to 181,000 roles in May this year.

In part, the hiring boost is reflective of the growth seen in venture capital investment into UK tech companies in 2021, a 130% increase to just under $41bn. Around 73% of investment into UK tech comes from overseas – an increase from 71% in 2021.

Outside of London, Edinburgh has the fifth highest number of tech vacancies in the UK, with over 20,000 roles opened by employers from May 2021 – May 2022.

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Gerard Grech, Founding Chief Executive of Tech Nation, said: “The UK’s record level of tech job vacancies demonstrates that the need for outside talent has never been greater.

“Even with our buoyant, currently well-funded and diverse ecosystem, the UK cannot afford to be complacent in our pursuit of international talent.”

Edinburgh’s rapidly growing tech sector is currently valued at $6.4bn (up from $5.6bn last year), with the city’s five most valuable firms being Skyscanner, IOmet Pharma, Current Health, Pocket FM and TVSquared.

Tech employment in Edinburgh is also at an all-time high, with 67,500 people working in the sector in 2022, up from 27,200 in 2021.

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