The recruitment market in digital and IT in France is experiencing a period of turbulence in 2025. Fewer opportunities, more timid professional mobility, a tense geopolitical context... and yet, beneath the surface, the momentum of digital transformation remains very much active. An overview of a transitional year.
📉 Fewer offers, less movement
The numbers speak for themselves. According to the latest study by Pôle Emploi and APEC, hiring intentions in digital professions have dropped by 12 % in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 (APEC, April 2025). This decrease is largely due to the scarcity of fundraising : the interest rates still high maintain pressure on investors, particularly in venture capital. Less cash, less aggressive growth... and therefore fewer hires.
At the same time, Talents have become more cautious. After several years of high mobility, many professionals are choosing to stay with their current company out of fear of economic uncertainty. As a result, there is less “liquidity” in the job market, and therefore fewer openings.
🌍 A fragile geopolitics
Added to this is a tense international context. The war in Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East and political uncertainty in the United States ahead of the presidential election have a direct impact on public procurement and the investment strategies of large corporations. Many prefer to wait and see while waiting for better visibility.
As the IMF notes in its growth outlook published in March 2025:
“Geopolitical uncertainty remains one of the main obstacles to the recovery of private investment, particularly in the technology sectors in Europe.”
(IMF, World Economic Outlook, March 2025)
⚙️ But digital transformation doesn't stop
It would be a mistake to believe that digital activity has ground to a halt. Quite the contrary. Digital transformation projects are continuing, often with a more strategic and rationalized orientation. We observe in particular:
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A massive adoption of artificial intelligence, integrated into productivity tools, customer relationship management, marketing, or R&D.
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A accelerated cloud deployment in large companies, to gain flexibility and performance.
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A priority given to cybersecurity, with the rise of expert profiles (DevSecOps, SOC analysts, etc.).
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The use of generative AI in the policies of cost cutting or of’task automation, to optimize resources without sacrificing quality.
📈 2026 in sight: order books are filling up
Despite a cautious present, The future looks more promising. Many B2B companies — particularly in industry, digital services, and tech — are beginning to fill their order books for 2026. Weak signals are multiplying: calls for tender, large-scale projects, recruitment plans in preparation.
This trend echoes the one observed after the 2020 shock, when the market rebounded strongly as early as 2021.
As a France Digitale report points out:
“We anticipate a gradual recovery in funding and recruitment starting in the second half of 2025, with a true resurgence expected for 2026.”
(France Digitale Index, March 2025)
🚀 En résumé
2025 n’est pas une année facile pour le recrutement digital et IT. Mais elle marque une phase de consolidation, d’observation et de repositionnement. Le marché est en veille, pas en veilleuse. Et si la prudence domine aujourd’hui, l’année 2026 pourrait bien marquer le retour d’une dynamique proche de celle de 2021–2022.
Chez digiRocks, on reste à l’écoute des signaux faibles, et surtout des talents qui veulent anticiper l’avenir. Parce que le digital ne dort jamais.