Creative professionals continue to play a vital role in helping brands stand out, emotionally connect with audiences, and stay visually relevant in an ever-evolving digital world. With the rise of AI-driven tools, omnichannel marketing, and user-first product development, the need for highly skilled creatives has only intensified in 2025. This article dives into the most in-demand creative roles, what skills employers are seeking, how much these roles typically pay, and how jobseekers can position themselves for success.
🔥 What’s Driving Demand in Creative Hiring?
The UK’s creative industries remain a cornerstone of the economy, employing over 2.4 million people between July 2023 and June 2024—accounting for 7.06% of the UK workforce.
There’s also been consistent salary growth in the sector, with permanent roles seeing 5.2% to 6.9% pay increases year-on-year.
Job site data also shows that creative roles remain resilient: Design and Marketing job listings were among the top 5 most resilient categories on Reed.co.uk in 2024, with UX/UI Design jobs up 42% year-on-year and Motion Design job searches increasing by 68%.
đź’Ľ The Most In-Demand Creative Roles in 2025
1. UX/UI Designers
With businesses doubling down on customer experience, UX/UI designers are critical for ensuring intuitive, accessible, and conversion-friendly design. Employers seek professionals who can conduct user research, design wireframes and prototypes, and collaborate across product teams.
- Average UK Salary: ÂŁ43,975 (Glassdoor)
- Key Skills:Â Wireframing, user testing, accessibility, Figma, prototyping
2. Motion Graphics Designers
As video continues to dominate social platforms and digital advertising, demand for motion designers has skyrocketed. Brands want creators who can bring static visuals to life across ads, explainers, and branded content.
- Average UK Salary: ÂŁ33,021 (Glassdoor)
- Key Skills: After Effects, Adobe Animate, 3D animation, storytelling
3. Brand Specialists
In crowded markets, branding is a key differentiator. From tone of voice to visual identity, brand specialists are in demand to ensure consistency and strategy across campaigns.
- Average UK Salary: ÂŁ36,657 (Glassdoor)
- Key Skills:Â Brand strategy, visual identity, messaging, copywriting
đź’° Salary Trends in the Creative Sector
A salary surge is being driven by a combination of skills shortages and growing business investment in digital and design functions. According to Major Players, salary growth in creative roles outpaces the UK average:
- UK Average Salary Growth (2025): 5.2%
- Creative Industry Roles: 5.2%-6.9% increase
Employers are particularly willing to pay more for hybrid-skilled candidates who combine creative ability with tech fluency, such as UX designers who understand CRO or motion designers skilled in 3D.
Average Creative Role Salaries in 2025 (UK) in ÂŁ (GBP)
Notes on Sources:
- Salaries vary by location (London skewing higher), seniority, and freelance vs perm.
- Sourced via Glassdoor, Reed Salary Guides and Major Players Salary Census 2025
🎓 Skills & Qualifications Employers Want
The creative industries attract highly educated professionals:
- 75% of creative workers in the UK hold degree-level qualifications, compared to 51% of the wider workforce (Creative PEC).
- 28% of roles are self-employed, double the national average, highlighting the freelance nature of many creative jobs (House of Lords Library).
🛠️ How to Land One of These Roles
- Build a standout portfolio: Show, don’t tell. Demonstrate your thinking process and results.
- Stay sharp on tools: Figma, After Effects, Notion, Jira and Canva are in hot demand.
- Understand the brief: Businesses want creatives who can work to objectives and think commercially.
- Network in the industry: Creative events, Discords, and LinkedIn groups can help you tap into new opportunities.
- Freelancing as a gateway:Â Many full-time roles originate from freelance projects.
🚀 Final Thoughts
Creative roles are central to growth in brand, product, and marketing. While AI tools can assist with design, businesses still need real human creativity, storytelling, and judgment. If you have the ability to pair creativity with strategic insight, 2025 is full of potential.