The tech industry is one of the strongest in the UK, and demand for top technology talent is at an all-time high. Despite being one of the most thriving industries, the tech sector is experiencing a significant talent shortage.
In fact, according to the 2023 Hays UK Salary and Recruiting Trends Report, 94 per cent of tech employers experienced skills shortages in the last 12 months. It also found that 80 per cent of those surveyed stated competition from other employers as the main cause of the skills shortage.
In a bid to attract and retain tech talent, the industry is observing a trend of rising salaries that is further driving the competitive market. As the tech talent shortage reaches new heights, we look at three ways tech employers can fight back.
Of course, before you start, our advice would be to get in touch with a team of expert recruiters. At Zoom Recruitment, we come equipped with years of extensive knowledge and expertise in recruitment, specialising specifically in the engineering, manufacturing, commercial and office industries. At Zoom Recruitment, we are committed to ensuring the recruitment process is as seamlessly stress-free as possible for all of our clients. When it comes to hiring top tech talent, we’ve got you covered.
Offer more flexibility
Employers that offer more flexibility and a better work-life balance are often more attractive to candidates. You may want to consider offering:
- Hybrid or remote working
- Flexible working hours outside of the traditional nine-to-five
- A shorter working week
In addition to flexibility around where and when people work, providing autonomy can also help. Allowing employees to lead projects and work under their own initiative with free reign can help attract tech talent. It also demonstrates that employees’ ideas and skills are valued and ensures the relationship is built on trust and respect.
Develop a strong employee value proposition
Tech candidates want to earn a good salary in return for their expertise and skills, but beyond pay, the other factors that matter the most to tech talent include:
- Remote working opportunities
- Career progression
- Making a positive contribution to society
- Health and wellbeing benefits
In order to attract and retain tech talent, employers should consider other benefits they can offer employees. Flexible working, personal development opportunities, Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives and wellbeing subscriptions can help to strengthen the employee value proposition.
Adapt your approach to hiring
Traditionally, essential qualifications are used to screen candidates, but you could overlook talent with the skills and experience but not the degree. So rather than focusing on candidates with a degree, look for those with the skills, work experience and potential to fill the role.
Look at the soft skills that the candidate has and how these can be useful to the role. You may also want to include a skills assessment as part of the hiring process to assess the candidate. The top five most in-demand soft skills employers in the tech industry look for are:
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Problem-solving
- Ability to adapt to change
- Flexibility
- Ability to learn and develop
Your partner in tech recruitment success
At Zoom Recruitment, we take a proactive approach to recruitment to help our clients attract the best candidates. Our team of recruitment specialists has extensive experience in traditional recruitment and executive search to match the right candidate with the right employer.
We understand that every employer and candidate is unique. Please get in touch to discuss your requirements and find out how we can help.
