The impact of Brexit on the IT jobs market

Ahsan Iqbal, director of Technology at recruitment specialist Robert Walters, examines how the IT jobs market changed in 2018 and the effect that Brexit will have in 2019

In the face of Brexit, it was pretty much "business as usual" for the IT industry in 2018. In fact, demand was high for specialists in business intelligence, data, analytics, security, development, architecture and digital - in both permanent and contract roles.

Fintech, e-commerce/online and financial services employers were active in recruiting digital professionals across development, DevOps and architecture as they expanded their online and digital offerings.

Professionals who could demonstrate technical abilities as well as communication and analytical skills were highly sought after, as an emphasis on communicating the threats of cyber security breaches to staff became more important.

Senior candidates with this skill set saw notably high demand for their skills as firms looked to encourage collaboration between IT departments and their wider business.

In terms of skills, candidates with a background in BI, data science, AI, cyber security, Java, Linux, CRM dynamics, architecture, cloud security and product were all in demand.

2019

The technology sector is growing three times faster than the main economy, and this shows no signs of abating in 2019.

In addition to startups and tech firms, companies in traditional industries are also putting significant investment in IT & digital - so much so that demand will increase for interim talent as employers implement data, digital and transformation projects.

Companies will also continue to invest in their security, architecture and data capabilities throughout 2019, driving up salaries in these areas.

On the other hand, employers will struggle to source developers, software architects, CRM specialists, data and security professionals for both permanent and interim roles as demand continues to outstrip supply.

Brexit

Whilst the outcome of Brexit negotiations remains to be seen, we can assume that in a post-Brexit UK, companies may outsource some of the roles abroad rather than try to attract EU talent into the county - but these tech-heavy based roles in the UK will be replaced by the need for more strategic thinkers as the role of the IT manager changes to become more business-focused.

It's important to remember that digital tech companies in London are the most connected in Europe, and this coupled with the opportunity to work alongside some the most advanced tech talent in the world, and the success stories of start-ups such as Deliveroo, will continue to be a big pull for overseas candidates.

With a growing network of tech start-ups, and hubs forming in Shoreditch, Manchester, and Leeds, companies will need to improve their work-life environment and culture as well as enhance their employer brand in order to attract and retain the best talent.

Competitive salaries, well-structured career paths, and exciting projects will continue to be optimal ways to attract top talent. We'll begin to see companies use a wider variety of tactics to attract technology talent - including hackathons, meetups, and tech events.