Oxfordshire – A County of Opportunity
By Nathan Freestone, Senior Finance Recruitment Specialist – Oxfordshire
With so much noise in the market about economic slowdown, it is no surprise that some people are questioning whether now is the right time to look for a new role. Across the UK, certain regions have seen a slowdown in hiring. Some of my colleagues at Wade Macdonald, who cover areas like London, Surrey and Hampshire, are noticing a more cautious approach from employers, with fewer live vacancies and extended hiring timelines.
Here in Oxfordshire, the story is very different.
I am still working on a wide range of strong senior finance roles, and the clients I speak to remain committed to hiring. Finance Director opportunities, senior commercial roles, project-focused interim work and high-performing Finance Manager positions continue to come through. The volume has held firm. In some cases, it has increased.
This is not by chance. Oxfordshire is one of the UK’s strongest performing local economies, and the figures back that up.
As reported by the Office for National Statistics in early 2025, the employment rate across Oxfordshire sits at 80 percent. That is considerably higher than the national average of 75 percent, and well above many neighbouring counties. The unemployment rate in the region is just 2.2 percent, compared with a UK-wide figure of 4.4 percent. These are incredibly strong labour market indicators and show just how resilient the local economy is.
Add to that the region’s deep links to innovation, life sciences and technology, and the outlook becomes even more compelling. Oxfordshire has consistently attracted investment from some of the biggest names in global research. GSK, for example, has committed £50 million to cancer research at Oxford University. Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison is investing £130 million in a new research campus. Moderna is building out its UK base here too.
The Times and the Financial Times have both highlighted Oxfordshire as a leading hub for science and enterprise, citing its role in the newly revived Oxford-Cambridge Arc project. This initiative, backed by the UK government, aims to supercharge growth between the two university cities and is forecast to contribute up to £78 billion to the UK economy by 2035.
In my conversations with finance professionals, I sometimes hear hesitation about entering the market right now. People worry that it may be too soon, too risky or that hiring may dry up. But in this region, those fears are misplaced. The quality of opportunity remains high and the competition is manageable. Employers are still keen to secure the right people, especially those who bring commercial insight, systems knowledge and the ability to support change.
So if you are between roles or simply thinking about your next move, now is not the time to wait on the sidelines.
Momentum is important. So is visibility. The market in Oxfordshire remains active and ambitious, and this is a great time to put yourself forward.
Whether you are looking for something permanent or open to interim opportunities, I would be happy to talk through what I’m seeing, share advice on how to stand out, and help you navigate what’s next.
Oxford continues to lead. If you are ready, so can you.