December is a good time to think about your next career move. Your colleagues may be a little hesitant about getting projects underway before the Christmas holidays, but for those with their eyes on job hunting in 2025, this month can be a really fruitful time to look for a job new opportunity.
Bonnie Dilber, head of recruiting at Zapier and HR influencer at TikTok, explains why based on her more than nine years of recruiting experience.
“Basically, at the end of the year, you have a situation where companies may have fewer positions advertised, but they are generally very anxious to close the positions that are advertised, and you have less competition.”
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“Budgets are released at the end of the year and some companies are set up to lose their budget if they don't make these adjustments within the financial year. So they will want to close the places they opened.”
Dilber also explains why competition decreases as the holidays approach. “Many candidates actually skip interviews this time of year. People who are salaried have year-end bonuses and possibly stock that vests. They often don’t want to start a new job until February or March.”
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What can you do with this information to give you a leg up on your career goals in 2025? And where should you focus your attention when it comes to the best cities for software developers in Europe?
Strong tech performers
Your thoughts may first turn to the major technology centers of London, Berlin and Paris. These cities are always in demand, and according to Startup Genome's latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report, London ranks first.
The total value of the London tech ecosystem was $621.5 billion in 2023. It is home to 103 unicorns and has seen an 800% increase in VC investments over the last decade. In fact, VCs invested $12 billion in London in 2023.
The picture is also rosy for Berlin. The German government is investing heavily in the sector and in 2023 launched Growth Fund Germany, a $1.76 billion fund pool to invest in German VCs. That same year, the company launched a DeepTech and Climate Fund initiative, providing $1.76 billion to growth-stage companies in these two subsectors.
Additionally, 468 startups were founded in Berlin in 2023, and interestingly, 49% of all startup employees are non-German citizens, providing workers with one of the most diverse workforces in the world.
The news in Paris is also positive. The French capital is home to more than 8,000 startups as well as the world's largest startup campus, Station F. French startups raised €8.3 billion in 2023, and France stood out for being one of only two European countries to in which more fund deals were recorded in 2023 than in 2022.
It is therefore not surprising that software developers are increasingly drawn to these major European cities – and not just because of the job opportunities. Competitive salaries, vibrant technology ecosystems, innovation-oriented approaches and cultural attractions are also included.
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Tech cities to watch
When it comes to those to watch or the cities where developers may find interesting roles to flex their muscles with early-stage companies, which cities and countries should they pay attention to?
Startup Genome's report highlights Copenhagen as a leading global fintech hub. In 2023, the Danish capital's fintech startups secured the third-largest VC funding per capita among the top 10 European ecosystems.
For developers skilled in building predictive models, developing trading algorithms, and developing new apps and tools for clients, this city offers opportunities for those with Python, Java, C++, C#, Ruby, and SQL knowledge.
And according to Levels, the average salary for software developers in Copenhagen is a hefty €93,260, rising to €134.1k for very experienced developers.
Serbia is also experiencing a booming startup scene. The salary is lower at an average of 60,619 euros, but so is the cost of living.
The cities of Belgrade and Novi Sad can offer developers exciting opportunities in gaming, blockchain and life sciences. Investments in the country are increasing, with the report noting that the ecosystem recorded $70 million in investments in 2023.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has also invested a record $846 million in Serbia, with China also investing $2.18 billion in Serbian renewable energy.
In Italy, Turin is developing into an emerging technology center. In the past it was known as a center of the automotive industry, today it is the second largest city in Italy in terms of investment volume and in 2023 recorded $70.8 million in 60 rounds of financing for its startups.
Wages here are modest at an average of 36,474 euros, but for developers interested in the fields of smart cities, AI, big data and analytics, and space technology, Turin is a city to consider.
Budapest and Istanbul are also on the rise as technology centers. Budapest is expected to outperform the EU average with GDP growth of 2.8% in 2025 and has done some excellent business in the life sciences sector.
Biotech company Turbine's cell simulation technology for cancer research and development secured $6 million in Series A funding in 2023, while VRG Therapeutics secured $5 million in Series A funding in the same year. received $5 million.
In Istanbul, the startup sector is supported by a network of 66 accelerators and 47 incubators, and the country has been an early adopter of STEM talent. As a result, the country produces 98,000 STEM graduates annually, 35% of whom are women.
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