London has become the second-ranked city globally for tech talent, just behind San Francisco, according to the “Global Tech Markets: Top Talent Locations 2025” report by Colliers. This highlights the capital’s dynamic fusion of AI innovation, education, startups, and global business presence.
Europe’s Tech Momentum
In Europe, the tech ecosystem is growing steadily. London takes the lead, with Paris and Dublin also securing top spots among the region’s top talent hubs. In fact, 22 European cities feature in Colliers’ top 50 global tech markets, more than any other region.
What Makes London Stand Out?
The report assessed over 200 cities on AI hiring, academic output, venture capital flows, and tech productivity. London scored highly across all categories, benefiting from its rich academic institutions, vibrant startup scene, and deep pool of global corporations.
As Andrew Hallissey of Colliers puts it: “Location strategy is shifting. London’s advantage lies in the scale of its ecosystem—talent, innovation, and investment all converge here.”
Dublin
While London excels overall, Dublin outperforms in productivity per tech worker, where tech contributes a robust 36% of GDP. Meanwhile, Paris maintains strong momentum in data science density.
UK’s Regional AI Divide
While London is performing strongly, 80% of AI roles in the UK are concentrated inside the M25, the boundary encircling Greater London. This imbalance has sparked concern about a growing digital divide between the capital and the rest of the country.
Government Steps In
To address this, the UK government has partnered with Google Cloud to revamp public-sector IT and train 100,000 civil servants in AI and digital tools by 2030, starting with the NHS and local authorities.
What are Industry Voices saying?
Tech leaders at London Tech Week and in broader discussions stress the urgency of upskilling, particularly in cybersecurity, data governance, and AI. There’s no single solution; organizations succeeding are the ones investing in cross-generational leadership and inclusive reskilling strategies.
Global Context for Europe and the World
Europe is talented but faces hurdles, like limited venture capital, slow regulations, and less experience scaling startups. Few top tech giants originate from here, and productivity lags behind the U.S. However, alignment between government, entrepreneurs, and innovation hubs is gaining strength.
Meanwhile, in Asia Pacific, cities like Bengaluru, Beijing, and Tokyo are growing fast. Bengaluru, in particular, is home to the world’s largest data science workforce, reflecting the global spread of tech talent.
Whether you’re scaling your tech team or relocating employees, our expertise ensures your move is seamless. Speak to our friendly team to explore how we can support your growth.