Where have Britain’s most talented workers gone?

The unwelcomed arrival of COVID-19 has left the UK in major economic and cultural shock. Now, with all legal lockdown restrictions eased and summer behind us, many businesses have slowly started to return to normal operations and job vacancies are skyrocketing. Yet as companies create and advertise jobs, they are finding it more and more difficult to fill them. Data from the Institute for Employment Studies has now estimated that there are now over one million jobs available in the UK, yet many firms are struggling to fill vacant positions and now the availability of workers has hit a 24-year low.

A new report has also outlined the crippling shortage of programmers and software development professionals, where 68,929 vacancies exist in a sector that has come to be more vital than ever for the survival of businesses. Additionally, the UK furlough scheme is set to end on September 30th, which is thought to have supported around 11.5 million jobs since it was introduced in 2020. With more jobs under threat in light of this, there is potential for the hiring process to become even more complicated for businesses who are already struggling to hire skilled workers.

Programmers and software developers have become increasingly important as lockdown restrictions and a changing consumer mindset has increased demand for digital solutions. Whether it be an app to order a drink at a pub or a need to offer online shopping, a digital offering is now essential. Demand for this skillset has rocketed recently, this is according to software development and team augmentation specialists DCSL GuideSmiths, who help firms keep up with project demands by finding the right talent to help deliver results quickly.