The Job Market In 2016: What Does It Mean For The Digital Sector?

The job market in 2016 is set to be incredibly fast-paced, particularly in the digital sector. Companies have recovered well from the global economic crash and are now choosing to expand their teams and invest in digital technology once again. This allows them to keep up with the ever-increasing innovations in the modern workplace.

8 Million Brits Want To Move Jobs

According to a recent report, approximately one quarter of the UK’s workforce of 31.2 million want to move jobs this year. This equates to around 8 million people who are dissatisfied with their current role and are actively looking to move onwards and upwards. Over 54% of those surveyed made themselves a work-related promise as their New Year’s resolution, which replaces the usual post-Christmas vow to join a gym.

Perhaps also fuelled by the festivities, almost a third of workers who were surveyed admitted to feeling unhappy about their current employment once they returned to their desks in January.

Motivated Candidates In 2016

From a candidates point-of-view, the rapidity with which the job market in 2016 is moving, means that the best candidates are not content to sit back and be ‘comfortable’ at work. Top talent in the digital sector knows that the best way to remain an attractive prospect for potential employers is to arm themselves with as many skills and project experience as possible. Unless they’re lucky enough to work for a firm that will invest in their personal development, the easiest way to acquire a rich portfolio of expertise is to change jobs every couple of years, picking up new tools and skills along the way. This of course has the consequence of moving the job market in 2016 along at an incredible rate. Those that don’t keep their skills current and stay stagnant in the same position will find that they get left behind and may face the threat of redundancy or miss out on internal promotions.

Competitive Companies

So what does this mean for employers?

Companies in this fluid job market should take care to hold on to the talent that they’ve already acquired. They might need to provide a better level of one-to-one communication with their employees and offer team members the opportunity of a voice to share their work dissatisfactions. Employers should also invest in digital training for their team members, allowing them to update their skills at a crucial stage in the technology revolution. If employees feel that they are given the opportunity for personal growth within an organisation, then they will be less inclined to move companies in order to find appreciation and fulfilment elsewhere.

The job market in 2016 also requires employers to work hard to gain fresh new talent onto their teams. Companies may find themselves in a bidding war with another business in order to try and win the commitment of a candidate. Employers will need to be competitive with salary and offer a decent benefits package with flexible working options. It is also paramount that companies use innovative modern technology at the heart of their company in order to impress prospective talent in 2016. Candidates in the digital sector, need the assurance that they are joining a forward-thinking company which is not afraid to adapt to change and invest in the future.

UK Companies Lose Out To America

One concern that UK companies in the digital sector should have, is the realisation that the best technology talent is leaving the UK in favour of finding jobs in America.

Our home-grown technology experts are being seduced by the promise of much larger salaries across the pond. In San Francisco for instance, a software developer could earn an annual salary of £86,000. The same role in the UK would earn around £54,000, 37% less than the offer in the States. Unsurprisingly then, technology talent is ditching the UK in droves which exacerbates the problem of the digital skills gap that already exists in the British technology industry.

Employees in the digital sector hold all the cards. They are smart and motivated professionals who are fully aware that their sought-after skills can help to secure them a top position with great benefits.

Whether you’re an experienced digital professional or an entry-level worker with a technology education who is motivated by the fast-pace of this industry, then we’re excited to talk to you. We can assist you in finding your next role with a top company. Want to know more? Get in touch today.