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Whether you’re joining the “Great Resignation” or just looking to upskill in your current role, you need to stay up-to-date with the newest trends in the rapidly changing world of recruitment. Here are our top predictions for 2022.
Tech will go from strength to strength
2021 saw demand for specialist professionals in many tech fields soar by 42% as home working accelerated the digital transition for many businesses. The UK had the highest tech investment in Europe last year at a massive $18 billion, so the number of jobs in this sector looks set to keep growing exponentially for years to come.
No more old-style offices
The pandemic has permanently transformed company culture, with mental health support and flexible working now being seen as must-haves rather than extras. Most companies are still going through a process of reinvention, and it’s vital for employers to engage with employees and ask what changes they would like to see, ensuring that everyone feels heard.
While home working was established in many companies long before the pandemic, for others it was the first time, and while many employers remain resistant to full-time home working, the statistics don’t lie: most staff see home working as a positive and want it to continue.
Employers now face losing talent to competitors if they don’t offer some flexibility around working from home. A recent study found that four in five employees would consider resigning if their employer didn’t offer the option of working from home at least part of the time.
And flexible working isn’t the only potential dealbreaker. The pandemic has shown up the cracks in company culture across the board, making it all too clear that employees need more than free fruit or fun team bonding excursions. The new company culture is about creating an environment that demonstrates genuine care for employees’ mental health, makes everyone’s voice heard, and makes them feel truly part of something.
Salaries will plateau
Salaries rose by up to 8.8% in 2021 in response to rising living costs and a mass exodus of employees. This kind of increase is not sustainable year-on-year, so we expect salaries to start levelling out again by summer.
While 2022 looks set to have its challenges, it will also bring positive change: more agility, less reactivity, and more deep looks at company culture, with a view to creating a real long-term transformation in the way we work.