Top recruiter reveals 2025 Scots roles in demand

Betsy Williamson of Core-Asset Consulting

Leading financial and professional services recruitment firm Core-Asset Consulting has revealed the five functions and associated jobs expected to be most in demand in Scotland in 2025.

The firm said that in 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.”

It said roles in demand in 2025 will include:

  • AI specialist (average median salary: £92,500 per annum / average contractor day rate: £600)

  • Data analyst (average median salary: £83,500 per annum / average contractor day rate: £400)

  • Digital transformation lead (average median salary: £145,000 per annum / average contractor day rate: £900)

Core-Asset said that in 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 (average median salary: £95,000 per annum / average contractor day rate: £550)

  • Regulatory analyst (average median salary: £87,500 per annum / average contractor day rate: £450)

  • Operational risk manager (average median salary: £97,500 per annum / average contractor day rate: £550)

Core-Asset said that in 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 (average median salary: £100,000 per annum / average contractor day rate: £600)

  • Technology risk manager (average median salary: £100,000 per annum / average contractor day rate: £600)

  • IT governance lead (average median salary: £142,500 per annum / average contractor day rate: £800)

The recruiter said that in 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 (average median salary: £80,500 per annum / average contractor day rate: £550)

  • Strategy consultant (average median salary: £120,000 per annum / average contractor day rate: £750)

  • Transformation project manager (average median salary: £117,500 per annum / average contractor day rate: £700)

In “complex” tax management, Core-Asset said “recently announced changes to UK tax policies, plus anticipated U.S. government policies to come, will require international and intercompany tax expertise” and that “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 (average median salary: £83,000 per annum / average contractor day rate: £600)

  • Intercompany specialists (average median salary: £83,000 per annum / average contractor day rate: £550)

  • Personal tax specialists in practise and wealth management (average median salary: £73,000 per annum / average contractor day rate: £550)

Betsy Williamson, founder and CEO of Core-Asset Consulting, said: “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 …

“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.”