Hiring eCommerce Talent: Have eCommerce Teams Grown in 2025?

May 20, 2025 11:34:19 AM

The eCommerce industry continues to shift in 2025, with innovation, customer demand, and new tech all playing a part. But as teams adapt to this ever-changing landscape, we wanted to know - are eCommerce teams growing?

In our latest salary survey, we asked professionals about changes to their team structure. While many reported headcount increases, others revealed their teams had shrunk over the past year. From business priorities to hiring budgets, there are plenty of factors at play — and we’re breaking down what’s driving these changes.

eCommerce team growth in 2025

In our 2025 salary survey, 43% of respondents said their eCommerce team has grown over the past 12 months, a strong indicator that many businesses are scaling up. However, 15% reported a decrease in team size, while 42% saw no change. So, while growth is happening across the industry, it’s not universal, highlighting how varied hiring strategies and business priorities remain.

When we compare this year’s results to 2024, we see a slight dip in team growth – 43% of respondents in 2025 said their eCommerce team has grown over the past 12 months, compared to 56% in 2024. That suggests some companies may be taking a more cautious approach to scaling in the current climate.

Fewer respondents reported a decrease in team size this year – 15% in 2025 versus 19% in 2024 – which could indicate improved stability in existing teams. Meanwhile, a larger percentage of respondents (42%) said their team size hasn’t changed, up from 25% last year. So while growth may have slowed, fewer teams are shrinking, and many are holding steady, showing signs of maturity and long-term planning in the eCommerce space.

Reasons for eCommerce team growth

Among respondents who reported team growth, several key trends emerged:

  • Company growth was the leading driver, highlighting the ongoing success of many eCommerce businesses despite a more cautious hiring landscape.
  • New business functions and expansion into new markets were also major contributors. This suggests companies are diversifying their offerings and entering new regions, both of which demand fresh talent with specialised knowledge.
  • New skills continue to be a priority, reflecting the ever-evolving nature of eCommerce roles, especially in areas like AI, automation, and digital performance.
  • Lastly, higher workloads prompted team expansion in many cases. As customer demands and expectations grow, businesses are recognising the need to increase headcount to maintain quality and speed.

Reasons for reduced headcount in eCommerce teams

For the 15% of respondents who reported a reduction in team size, several recurring themes stood out:

  • Staff leaving but not being replaced was the most common reason, indicating a cautious approach to backfilling roles. Rather than rushing to rehire, some companies are opting to redistribute responsibilities across remaining team members.
  • Redundancies and recruitment freezes point to cost-saving measures, especially in businesses navigating tighter budgets or shifting priorities.
  • Cost optimisation is a notable theme this year, with companies looking to streamline operations and maximise ROI from leaner teams.
  • Management changes also played a role, often leading to structural reshuffles and reprioritisation of hiring plans.

While the overall percentage of teams reducing headcount is smaller, these insights show that efficiency and stability are top of mind for many businesses in 2025.

Get more eCommerce recruitment insights!

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