Global professional job vacancies saw a -11.6% month-on-month decrease in April compared to March, continuing a period of fluctuating hiring activity across the globe.
Toby Fowlston, CEO at Robert Walters comments, “While individual months have swung between sharp rises and falls, the broader trend suggests a recruitment market in flux rather than in decline. The statistics point to a cautious hiring environment with pockets of strategic activity, where employers are adjusting to economic unpredictability and external pressures rather than pausing recruitment outright.”
The findings come from Robert Walters Global Jobs Index, published today on Tuesday 20 May in partnership with Vacancysoft. It is the only index of its kind to track job flow for professional roles across the globe by looking at external job adverts posted online in real time.
AI & Data Talent: Demand Shifts Toward Infrastructure
Hiring for AI and data roles held steady in April, with machine learning postings up +27% month-on-month. Much of the current demand is centred on data engineers – the specialists responsible for building the infrastructure needed to scale AI in real-world settings.
Technology, Media & Telecoms companies accounted for the largest share of AI and data roles so far in 2025 (43.5%), followed by Financial Services (37.0%).
“As AI moves from pilot projects to enterprise-wide deployment, we’re seeing greater demand for talent that can build and maintain the underlying data infrastructure. That’s especially true for data engineers and technical specialists,” adds Toby. “It’s a fast-evolving space – and businesses are increasingly looking for people who can help them scale responsibly and effectively.”
Mixed Picture Across Global Markets
In April, France saw a +3.5% month-on-month increase in professional vacancies – a notable uptick in an otherwise subdued European market. Much of this growth is attributed to growing demand in Healthcare (+13.0%), Technology, Media & Telecommunications (+12.0%) and Financial Services (+5%). Notably, the United States recorded one of the sharper declines in April, with vacancies down -16.2%, while the UK also fell by -12.0%.
“In the US, changes to tariff policies have led to uncertainty for companies exposed to international trade, prompting a more cautious approach to headcount planning. While in the UK, recent changes to National Insurance are making some employers reassess short-term cost structures,” adds Toby. “This environment is prompting companies to be more selective, with a with a greater emphasis on roles that can drive productivity, short term revenue or cost savings.”
Sector Snapshot
Professional Services
Professional Services was a notable outlier in April (+9.9%), with strong growth in India (+36%) and Italy (+6.6%) driven by increased demand for consultants and advisory expertise.
“Consulting and legal services are often early indicators of shifting business priorities,” says Toby. “These sectors tend to grow when companies are preparing for change – whether that’s digital transformation, new regulations, or cross-border expansion.”
Technology, Media & Telecoms (TMT)
TMT remained the largest hiring sector globally, representing 35% of all vacancies. However, the industry posted a -17.9% decline in April as companies moderated hiring after a strong March.
France defied the trend, with TMT vacancies rising +12.0%. By contrast, the US (-25.0%) and UK (-18.0%) saw a significant decline.
Toby says, “The increase we’re seeing in France follows a slower start to the year, when many organisations paused external recruitment amid economic uncertainty and focused on internal mobility. As conditions begin to stabilise, tech firms in particular are increasing hiring activity to support their digital growth and transformation.”
Financial Services
Hiring in Financial Services fell -8.5% globally in April. However, France saw modest growth (+5.0%), while Poland recorded only a slight downturn of -2.7%.
“Hiring currently is less about headcount growth and more about reinforcing core operations,” explains Toby. “We’re still seeing a demand for roles in governance, risk, and controls – key areas that help financial institutions stay ahead of regulatory requirements and navigate operational uncertainty.”
Outlook
While April marked a slowdown in overall hiring, the longer-term picture suggests employers remain cautiously active – prioritising roles that drive productivity, revenue or cost savings.”
The Robert Walters Global Jobs Index – delivered in conjunction with Vacancysoft – was released on Tuesday 20 May 2025, with the next Index due for release on Tuesday 17 June 2025.
The Index analyses job adverts posted on the websites of the largest organisations around the globe.
