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March 28, 2025

UK startups scale back hiring plans ahead of tax hikes

New job adverts have fallen by 21% as startups tighten their belts and turn to AI agents

UK startups are trying to save cash by scaling back hiring plans, ahead of increases to employer tax contributions and falling VC funding in the second half of 2024. 

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Kai Nicol-Schwarz

Kai Nicol-Schwarz was a senior reporter at Sifted. He covered AI and UK tech.

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