Many Tech Professionals Will Look for New Jobs, New Employers in 2024

Even with a tech recession continuing to impact the broader economy, many U.S. tech professionals are not planning to stay at their current employers. In its annual Tech Sentiment Report released today, tech career marketplace Dice (a DHI Group, Inc. brand; NYSE: DHX) reports that nearly one-third of technology professionals are actively searching for a new job, and 60% are considering changing employers within the next year. With a 2.2% tech unemployment rate (well below the national average of 3.8%), these job seekers know they still have room to negotiate for the benefits and salaries they want — especially if they are proficient in high-demand skills or experienced in popular tech roles.

“Tech professionals are a very resilient group of people, and the results from our Tech Sentiment Report show both their strength of character and an understanding of their position in the market right now,” said Dice CEO Art Zeile. “Yes, we are in the midst of what I call a tech recession, in that tech is being adversely affected while other areas are experiencing a faster recovery. But demand remains high for tech professionals who have the skills to help companies with tech infrastructure, engineering in all of its many uses, cybersecurity, and data science and management; companies simply can’t afford not to employ them. Tech professionals know they’re in demand, so they’re continuing to search for environments that are right for them, and that means the right cultures and values, the right kinds of work and the right benefits based on their unique needs and wants.”

The 2023 Tech Sentiment Report includes data and analysis on flexibility and remote work satisfaction, salary transparency expectations and the importance of employer brand. Here are a few of the key takeaways.

A Continued Demand for Balance and Flexibility

Tech professionals know the specialized, in-demand roles they fill, and they will continue to expect flexibility from their employers. Work-life balance is critical (a perceived lack of it is one of the top reasons Gen Zers will turn down a job offer), and for many tech professionals, it didn’t improve over the past year. Nearly 63% of respondents said their work-life balance hasn’t improved since last year, an increase from 56% in 2022.