February 26, 2020
New technology expected to drive jobs growth
Two thirds of UK business leaders expect developments in technology to lead to an increase in the number of permanent jobs created this year, a survey has suggested. The South West and Wales region is the most confident about the impact of new technology, with nearly three quarters of businesses anticipating jobs growth, compared to 56 percent in the least optimistic region, the North of England.
Overall, 39 percent of respondents also expected to see more temporary roles created, with fairly small variations across regions (43 percent in the South West and 35 percent in the North). The poll was carried out by Robert Half UK among 600 UK senior executives as part of an international study on hiring trends and career ambitions (registration required).
Matt Weston, Managing Director of Robert Half UK, commented: “There is no question that new technologies will have a significant impact on the future of work over the coming year, driving opportunities for growth in the longer term.
[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Employers would be well-minded to evaluate their remuneration packages and wider incentives if they are to attract and retain the top tech talent.[/perfectpullquote]
“As businesses look to attract the best digital specialists to leverage these developments, the war for talent will only continue to heat up. However, the real sweet spot lies with those who have the necessary technological expertise combined with ‘soft skills’ such as communication and strategic thinking.
“With the pace of digital transformation showing no signs of slowing down in 2020, employers would be well-minded to evaluate their remuneration packages and wider incentives, such as flexible working and regular training, if they are to attract and retain the top tech talent to take advantage of growth opportunities coming their way this year.”
According to the international study, 49 percent of business leaders believe digital transformation will be the trend that has the single biggest impact on their company over the next 12 months. To encourage their teams to adopt new technology, businesses are looking at various strategies, the study says, including:
- Clearly articulating the benefits of new technologies (23 percent).
- Empowering employees to be more innovative and experimental at work (22 percent).
- Fostering a ‘culture of curiosity’ in the workplace (13 percent).
