View all newsletters
Receive our newsletter - data, insights and analysis delivered to you
  1. Leadership
  2. Digital Transformation
January 22, 2018updated 23 Jan 2018 4:46pm

IT jobs boom but skilled candidates failing to apply

Not only are tech jobs growing constantly, but so are the salaries they offer. Now is the time to apply if you have these vital skills the world is in need of.

By Tom Ball

Not only are salary offerings growing steadily, but IT jobs themselves are multiplying at a very positive rate. By comparing Q4 to Q3 in 2017 and reflecting on the same period in 2016, it has been found that IT job vacancies saw an increase of 4.1 per cent year-on-year.

The positivity of the statistics that represent the growth of the industry are counter-weighted with the concerning fact that candidates are hesitating to capitalise on these opportunities.

IT jobs boom but skilled candidates failing to apply

These statistics have been drawn from a report produced by the independent job board, CV-Library, also finding that not only are candidates hesitating, but applications for these tech jobs have actually decreased by 7.5 per cent quarter-on-quarter.

Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library comments on the findings: “It’s great to see that the job market in the IT sector is flourishing, particularly when compared with data from the same period last year. In Q4 2016, the Brexit vote was still raw and very much in the forefront of everyone’s minds. This is not to say that this is no longer the case, as the future of the UK is still very uncertain. However, the increase in advertised jobs suggests that as the dust begins to settle, employers are continuing to invest in their recruitment efforts and are working hard to keep driving the economy forward.”

Automation is now being looked to increasingly to take the weight of IT sector work, a shift that continues to be greatly contributed to by the lack of valuable tech skills.

Global public cloud spend to hit $160 billion in 2018
Cyberattacks ranked THIRD greatest global risk in 2018
700 MILLION cyberattacks beaten by digital business in 2017

“Competition for the top candidates is tough, and this is reflected in the increase in advertised salaries across the industry. Though many companies might be reluctant to loosen the purse strings, it’s clear that offering competitive packages is important right now, especially given that unemployment is at its lowest in 42 years. What’s more, with more companies investing in their cyber security efforts, many are recognising that this requires higher pay packets to secure the top talent,” Biggins said.

Content from our partners
Unlocking growth through hybrid cloud: 5 key takeaways
How businesses can safeguard themselves on the cyber frontline
How hackers’ tactics are evolving in an increasingly complex landscape

Cybersecurity is a space that is suffering terribly at the hands of the waning influx of tech skills, with threats having increased exponentially in volume and complexity.

“January and February are traditionally a busy couple of months for recruitment, so we hope to see application rates pick back up in the first quarter of 2018. Overall, it’s positive to see that despite ongoing uncertainty, IT organisations are taking proactive steps to rouse candidate appetite and stimulate growth in the economy. We hope that as we move ever closer to Brexit, both business and candidate confidence will continue to improve.”

Websites in our network
Select and enter your corporate email address Tech Monitor's research, insight and analysis examines the frontiers of digital transformation to help tech leaders navigate the future. Our Changelog newsletter delivers our best work to your inbox every week.
  • CIO
  • CTO
  • CISO
  • CSO
  • CFO
  • CDO
  • CEO
  • Architect Founder
  • MD
  • Director
  • Manager
  • Other
Visit our privacy policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.
THANK YOU