UK employers are shifting hiring priorities in 2025, placing greater value on soft skills over technical expertise, according to a new report by Startups.co.uk.
The 2025 Workforce Report shows that 64% of employers plan to favour emotional intelligence and interpersonal abilities when selecting new candidates this year.
The trend is most visible in sectors traditionally associated with technical knowledge. In Technology and Software, 74% of employers reported they would prioritise soft skills. Finance and Fintech follow closely at 66%. Other sectors showing similar preferences include Hospitality and Tourism (62%), Manufacturing and Engineering (61%), Consulting and Services (61%), E-commerce and Retail (61%) and Healthcare and Life Sciences (60%).
These findings suggest a shift in how technical and customer-facing sectors evaluate talent, with increasing emphasis on communication, teamwork and adaptability.
Mature Companies Show Stronger Preference for Interpersonal Skills
Startups.co.uk editor Zohra Huda stated that technological advancements alone are not sufficient for growth. “In 2025, business technology is changing daily and if you are a young startup and you aren’t onboard the training train, you’re considered past it. But our Workforce Report reveals that narrative flips with scaling companies who need communicators, team managers and delegators not just technical specialists to support their growth,” she said.
The report also examined how the age of a business impacts its hiring focus. Companies that have been operating for four years were 65% likely to hire based on soft skills. The figure climbs with slightly younger firms—3-year-old businesses were 67% likely and 2-year-old firms 69% likely to prioritise soft skills.
By contrast, startups that are only one year old showed the lowest inclination, with just 48% indicating a preference for soft skills when recruiting. This data implies that as businesses mature and expand, their talent requirements evolve to include leadership, collaboration and people management capabilities.
The full report by Startups.co.uk offers further insights into how workplace dynamics and skill expectations are changing across UK industries, pointing to a broader transformation in recruitment strategies as organisations respond to new operational demands and technological shifts.
