In the digital age, the software development sector has been a rapidly evolving field, with an increasing surge in demand for professionals. This blog is the first in our three-part series where we take a deep dive into the UK and Irish Software Development Industry exploring key insights including the fastest growing skills and what employee value propositions matter most to employees, plus much more.

Our first post provides a comparative analysis of the software development market in the UK and Ireland, delving into critical aspects such as the number of professionals, gender distribution, hiring demand, job transitions, average tenure, and number of full-time job openings.

The UK’s software development sector has grown by an impressive 13%, with a total of 531,616 professionals in the field. This market presents a wealth of potential and opportunities for both new graduates and experienced professionals. However, with 14,102 full-time job openings, companies are finding it difficult to recruit the right talent. In the past year, 81,130 people changed jobs, with the average tenure being just 1.5 years, which showcases the candidates’ power in this sector and the dynamic nature of the job market.

In spite of its modest size, Ireland’s software development market is flourishing with a growth rate of 11% last year. This brought the number of professionals in the field to a staggering 66,612, highlighting the sector’s growing importance to Ireland’s economy. The country’s strong talent pool has attracted numerous global tech organizations, including Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Indeed, IBM, and Microsoft, who have chosen Ireland as their European base.

However, similar to the UK, the competition to recruit top talent is fierce. With over 1,732 full-time positions available, software professionals have a plethora of opportunities to choose from, leaving many businesses struggling to attract skilled employees. Furthermore, in the past 12 months, 8,759 software developers have switched jobs, and the average job tenure is only 1.6 years. This demonstrates the intense competition in both attracting and retaining talent and underscores how much power and choice professionals in this industry hold.

Gender imbalance is still prevalent in both the UK and Ireland, where male professionals make up the majority in the software development industry. Shockingly, 82% of professionals in the UK and 78% in Ireland are male. The role of women in technology cannot be underestimated. Gender diversity fosters distinct ways of thinking, which can enhance the quality of ideas. This, in turn, promotes innovation and growth.

To combat gender disparities, tech companies can take several measures, such as providing mentorship, promoting based on performance, and offering flexible work schedules. Inclusive and diverse workplaces are crucial, not only from an ethical standpoint, but also a commercial one. Companies that prioritize these values will stay ahead of their competitors and attract top talent in the highly competitive job market.

Thank you for joining us for the first part of our series. Next week, we’ll delve into the most popular and rapidly developing skills in software development. Stay updated by following us, so you don’t miss out on any valuable insights.

If you want any more information or need some help with your talent pipeline, we’d love to hear from you, reach out to us here!