The big hiring tend of 2025? It’s going to be stability.

Who remembers the days of rapid growth, unicorn valuations, and the allure of the "disruptive" startup?

While innovation and excitement still hold a certain appeal in the job market of 2025, a quieter, more fundamental desire is increasingly shaping candidate decisions: stability.

As 2025 unfolds, I’m predicting this will become more important to candidates as we move into a world disrupted by tariffs and wild stock market swings.  

It’s part of a growing trend, candidates we speak with preparing for interview routinely will go onto Companies House or Crunchbase and get digging.

In 2025, our view is that stability is a major selling point.

Why this shift? For many 2025 will be their 3rd or 4th economic challenge, which are supposed to happen just once in a career (2008, Brexit, COVID). This generation is used to stormy weather.

If you ask me, the market is just learning.

The lessons learned from living memory ‘once in a career’ economic fluctuations and the volatility experienced by some high-growth ventures have instilled a deeper desire for security.

They have seen many times what happens in these markets, friends and family members going through redundancies we all will know someone who has been through it. I went through it in 2008!  

It’s simple to see why, a stable company is more likely to offer:

Job Security: In an uncertain world, the peace of mind that comes with knowing your role is less vulnerable to funding droughts or drastic restructuring is more valued.Predictable Growth and Development: Stable organisations often have well-defined career paths and opportunities for professional development that aren't contingent on the next funding cycle.Reliable Benefits and Compensation: Companies with a solid financial footing are more likely to offer competitive and consistent benefits packages and salary increases.A Healthier Work Environment: Stability can foster a more balanced and less frantic work environment, reducing the stress associated with constant uncertainty.

The candidates I’m working with in 2025 are doing their due diligence. They're looking beyond the flashy headlines and digging into a company's financial health, its revenue streams, and its long-term strategy. They're asking the tough questions about sustainability and profitability.

Our advice to hirers, tackle this head on, if you are hiring be prepared to present in depth what the overall big picture is for the business. Review closely what the CFO or Financial representatives of the business communicate. Candidates will always appreciate honesty and this is now a selling point for you.  

In many cases it also puts you ahead of the competition. Sometimes, the greatest innovation lies not in disruption, but in the ‘boring looking’ work in building a foundation that can weather the storm.

LiCa Scientific is a specialist recruiter for scientific roles. To enquire email us at admin@licasci.com and our website is www.licasci.com