Over half of tech workers (57%) changed jobs over the past 12 months, according to research*. The survey – carried out among 2,000 tech workers – revealed that four in ten (42%) changed jobs by choice, while 15% were made redundant.
The research found that tech workers were seeking out stability. Nearly half (45%) of those who changed jobs (either by choice or because they were made redundant) accepted a role within a larger organisation. Other career moves included joining a smaller company (12%), setting up an independent business (10%), freelancing (10%), or taking some time out (9%).
Dominic Harvey, director at CWJobs, comments: “We’ve seen a huge shake-up of the tech industry over the past year – whether workers have been forced to change jobs or have taken proactive steps to find a new role. This level of movement puts a lot of pressure on employers in terms of training and continuity of IT support, but it also represents a massive opportunity for the industry to accelerate innovation. Fresh talent can bring new ideas and new ways of doing things, which could help to push teams forward.”
Race to replace departing tech talent
There is fierce competition to replace departing talent, with new CWJobs data revealing that there were over 454K IT job vacancies in the UK market in Q1 2023. The five roles in highest demand (e.g. most posted) between January and March 2023 on CWJobs were .net developer, data engineer, devOps engineer, senior Java developer and Java developer.
Tech workers are approached by potential employers an average of 3.6 times per month, yet half (50%) of workers say they never reply or reply to just one approach per month. Candidates are most likely to respond based on salary (46%), rewards and benefits (41%), strong relevance of the role (32%), and location (31%).
Dominic Harvey, director at CWJobs, comments: “Employers who have lost good workers are not alone. Unfortunately, with this level of movement across the industry, it’s near impossible to avoid top tech talent either being poached or feeling like it’s time for a change. Retention strategies will always be important, but in this hiring market companies need to be realistic and make sure they also have a plan in place to attract new talent. Tech talent is on the move and employers cannot afford to fall behind.”
CWJobs shares the following top tips for employers to attract and retain talent when there is significant movement across the sector:
- Assess current needs: As technology and business needs evolve, employers may find they do not need like-for-like replacements. When teams are in flux, this can be a good opportunity to review what skills employees have and whether this reflects what the company now needs.
- Stand out against the competition: The high level of movement across the industry means employers need to work even harder to attract candidates and maintain staffing levels. They must stand out from the crowd – both in job adverts and in direct approaches – by selling the things that matter most to employees, including salary, benefits, and progression opportunities.
- Re-think the recruitment process: In order to attract top talent, companies need to make it easy for candidates to apply for roles. Long application forms and drawn-out interview process only drive candidates elsewhere. Companies should aim to offer fast track applications for the most suitable candidates.
- Balance hiring entry-level and experienced talent: Hiring new and experienced talent enables all workers to achieve their full potential. New talent gives experienced workers more space to upskill, and experienced workers provide young hires with new insights and expertise. In turn, companies benefit from having a happier and more productive workforce that can boost performance.
- Build a more diverse and inclusive tech team: Diverse tech teams offer different cultural perspectives, can inspire creativity and drive innovation. There are many tools available to support unbiased and inclusive recruitment – helping teams to build back stronger than ever before.
*Research by CWJobs
