Navigating the 2025 Hiring Surge in Investor Relations and PCA

The landscape of investor relations and private capital advisory (PCA) is shifting rapidly in 2025. After a cautious start, the second half of the year reveals a surge in activity, driven by renewed fundraising momentum and a dynamic secondary market. For firms and professionals in these specialised sectors, understanding the latest hiring trends is not just an advantage, it’s essential for staying competitive.

Our comprehensive new report, the Investor Relations & PCA Hiring and People Moves Report: 2025 YTD, dives deep into the data, offering insights into market dynamics. This article provides a high-level overview of the key findings, highlighting the critical trends shaping recruitment in investor relations and private capital advisory.

Market Challenges: The Battle for Top Talent

This hiring boom is not without its obstacles. The most significant challenge is a bottleneck for execution-ready talent. Experienced Associates and VPs, especially those with direct GP-led secondary exposure, are in short supply.

This scarcity creates intense competition among firms and puts significant pressure on retention. High mobility in both IR and advisory means companies risk losing mid-level and senior talent. To combat this, leading firms are focusing on defining clear career progression paths and offering attractive carry incentives. Furthermore, the increasing prevalence of cross-border mandates means cultural fluency and a willingness to relocate are becoming key differentiators for candidates.

What This Means for Your Hiring Strategy

For companies, the message from our report is clear: act decisively. In this candidate-driven market, a slow hiring process means losing out on top professionals. To attract the best talent, you must highlight your firm’s global platform, unique culture, and opportunities for long-term career growth.

For candidates, the current market offers a wealth of opportunity. The demand for your skills is expanding beyond traditional roles into new and exciting areas like infrastructure, credit, and secondaries. Focusing on your execution skills such as financial modeling, project management, and investor engagement will give you a significant edge.

Access the report

Our full report provides a granular analysis, including:

• A detailed breakdown of people moves across seniority and gender.
• Data on buy-side versus sell-side hiring disparities.
• Specifics on compensation trends and what to expect in Q4.
• A comprehensive list of notable people moves YTD.

Understanding these dynamics is crucial for making informed decisions, whether you are building a team or navigating your next career move.

Access updated salary data across Investor Relations.