UK Tech talent warning amidst budget constraints and rising workloads
Half of UK tech professionals are considering leaving their present role in the next 12 months. Workloads rise for more than half (54%) of UK tech professionals. Almost a third (31%) are considering leaving for a change of culture. Despite almost half (45%) of UK tech professionals receiving a pay increase last year, and 1 in 7 receiving a promotion, UK tech teams are feeling the strain of budget constraints and rising workloads – as half (50%) report that they’re considering leaving their present role in the next 12 months.
These findings are published today in the Harvey Nash Global Tech Talent & Salary Report, which is based on a survey of over 2,700 technology professionals globally. The report, which unearths interesting insights about employee attrition, motivation and top priorities when seeking and staying with employers, also found that in the face of tightening budgets:
- The workloads of more than half (54%) of UK tech professionals increased over the past year.
- More than a quarter (27%) report a reduction in the size of their team, with 91% feeling that the lack of people resources has created a barrier to delivering their technology strategy.
- UK staff do, however, feel well supported – with 85% of tech professionals saying their employer is supportive of their physical and mental wellbeing.
Push factors - why UK technologists are considering leaving
Although around half (48%) are considering leaving for more pay, and 41% to further their career, almost a third (31%) state that they’re leaving for a change of culture. Data insights from LinkedIn, which partnered with Harvey Nash for the publication of this report also support these findings, with technologists globally ranking ‘Organisational support to balance work and personal life’ and ‘Opportunities for career growth’ in their top five Employer Value Propositions.
Pull factors – the top three attractors to a new role
Although good remuneration/pay ranked the number one attractor to a new role amongst technologists in the UK, there were significant variations between countries with those based in the US ranking a ‘work from anywhere policy’ as second and ‘healthcare benefits’ third. UK based technologists also ranked the ‘work from anywhere policy’ second, but a ‘strong culture and leadership’ third, once again emphasising the importance of company culture in attracting and retaining staff in the UK.
“Whether or not UK technologists follow through with their intentions to leave remains to be seen, but what is clear from our study is that expectations of their roles and the companies they work for are changing. After pay, satisfaction in flexible work environments, work-life balance, and positive corporate culture feature high on their list of demands. Even with tech talent availability returning to pre-pandemic norms, UK businesses must adapt to these evolving needs to attract and retain top tech talent effectively. Going forward retaining talent will be a delicate balance between getting the pay right and keeping work interesting and rewarding.”
Andy Heyes, Managing Director UK&I and Central Europe at Harvey Nash
Other key findings from the Harvey Nash Global Tech Talent & Salary Report include:
Building a Career in Technology - Routes into UK tech are changing
Although a university degree (46%) is still a very popular path into a tech career in the UK, almost 5 in 10 technologists (48%) transitioned into tech from an alternative career and this was particularly true for female technologists where almost two thirds (62%) made this move, compared to 45% of men. Significantly more women in the UK also kickstarted their career with industry certification (26%) than men (18%) - an important consideration for any UK business looking to attract more women to their tech teams.
Tech leaders - visionaries vs technical gurus
The Harvey Nash report also found that today’s technologists want more from their leaders than technical know-how. In the UK, the ‘ability to create a positive culture within IT/tech’ (59%) and ‘influence at board level, and with the wider business’ (55%) were identified as the most important factors, closely followed by ‘strong communication skills’ (54%). All of these factors ranked more highly than having ‘a deep understanding of technology’ (39%).
DEI – bias in AI development
Although the majority of technologists surveyed in the UK appear to be satisfied overall that their organisation is serious about the DE&I agenda, the report found that they would like to see more attention given to disability and neurodiversity, alongside the existing focus on gender and race.
With the UK’s tech sector still displaying significant diversity deficits, especially in gender, the Harvey Nash report warns that any cuts to DE&I budgets, as already witnessed amongst some of the tech giants last year, come at a time when companies are forging ahead on the biggest technology shift in a decade: artificial intelligence. If diverse people are not included in AI development, that may result in even greater power imbalances for both employees, end users and society at large.
“The UK’s tech industry never stands still and continues to be an exciting and rewarding career with endless opportunities for those looking to join it. With so many organisations looking at how to harness the power of AI, the findings laid out in this report will help the industry truly understand what those responsible for delivering on tech strategy are thinking, and what organisations need to consider to attract, and importantly retain this highly valued talent. The stakes are high – winning on talent could be the difference between business success and failure.”
Bev White, CEO of Nash Squared, owners of Harvey Nash
About the report
The Harvey Nash Global Tech Talent & Salary Report is based on a survey of over 2,700 technology professionals globally (including 848 in the UK). The survey took place between June and July 2024. This report is part of a suite of reports and surveys that Nash Squared owned companies publish annually, including its highly respected Digital Leadership Report, which was launched in 1998 and is the world’s largest and longest running survey of senior technology leaders.
About Harvey Nash
We are masters of technology recruitment, helping organisations find the very best talent –from software developers to business transformation leaders. With over 35 years’ experience and global reach, we have an unparalleled knowledge and capability in all areas of technology.
We’re part of Nash Squared - the leading global provider of technology and talent solutions, equipped with a unique network that realises the potential of where technology and talent meet.
For further information visit www.harveynash.co.uk
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