COVID-19 Impact on Tech Hiring Trends

• Remote work soared during the pandemic and will likely increase in the future.
• The pandemic created a demand for specific jobs in tech.
• Companies recognize the value of reskilling their current workforce.
• Tech may become more diverse thanks to flexible work schedules.

While jobs took a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic with 17.6 million fewer positions in May 2020 than there were in May 2019, tech occupations grew by 1.2% in that same period, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The pandemic triggered tech hiring trends that could be here to stay.

The pandemic created demands for specific tech positions, added workplace flexibility, increased the candidate pool, and led to more employee retraining. COVID-19 has impacted incoming tech workers, seasoned professionals, and individuals in other sectors looking to make a career switch.

Because of the pandemic, companies across all sectors have embraced remote working models that offer added flexibility for workers — especially for busy parents, caregivers, and people living in remote areas.

About 24% of all workers performed their job using some telework in July 2020, according to the BLS. And one survey has indicated that remote work will likely increase in tech through 2025, which could help diversify the workforce since employees do not have to live in the same location as the company.

Priorities in tech have also shifted with the pandemic. Increased use of remote technologies caused companies to invest in secure networks. The pandemic also created demand for specific roles in tech.

Read on to find out more about the tech hiring trends and the impact of COVID-19 on jobs, demand, and working conditions.

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How COVID-19 Has Impacted Tech Hiring

The tech industry, much like all sectors, felt the impact of COVID-19. However, tech fared better and perhaps even benefitted when the pandemic disrupted business around the world and forced companies to use technology to communicate, conduct business, and shop.

In the United States, e-commerce grew 44% in 2020, with consumers spending over $861 billion, according to estimates fromDigital Commerce 360. The increased use of remote technologies in the workplace also put pressure on companies to invest more in cybersecurity.

The pandemic affected tech in four key ways:

Specific Roles in High Demand

Tech hiring needs changed because of COVID-19. Professionals skilled in cloud-based systems that could help companies transition to remote work were in high demand early in the pandemic.

Employers now need more software developers, cybersecurity experts, and data scientists. Even before COVID-19, demand exceeded supply. According to Forrester's analysis of BLS data, the amount of tech positions increased by about 60,000 from May 2019 to May 2020.

Data science jobs increased by almost 94%, and information security analyst positions grew by about 10%. Computer managers, software developers, web developers, and computer network architects all grew by about 5%.

Flexible Schedules and Remote Work

The BLS reported that in August 2020, about 1 in 4 professionals worked remotely that month because of the pandemic. Large tech companies embraced the trend early in the pandemic and sent their workers home.

Now, Slack and Twitter will continue to let employees work part time or full time from home, while Google and Apple will allow workers to work remotely two days per week. Other companies will likely follow suit.

An Upwork study found that 36.2 million Americans will work remotely by 2025, an 87% increase from pre-pandemic remote work levels. The increased use of telework could create a more diverse workforce in tech, making it easier for people who care for children or other loved ones to work full time.

More Applicants for Open Positions

The pandemic dramatically affected all sectors across geographic barriers. The unemployment rate in the U.S. hit a record high of 14.8% in April 2020. But by June 2021, the unemployment rate leveled off at 5.9%, according to the BLS.

Now, with a more stable economy, the tech industry has a surplus of qualified candidates vying for vacant positions. Many of these individuals became unemployed when their employers laid off their workforce or shuttered their business.

Non-tech candidates also joined the job hunt to change careers. The pandemic changed tech industry recruitment practices, with many companies in Canada, the Dominican Republic, Poland, Portugal, and Australia now hiring internationally.

Workforce Development

The pandemic created instability in tech and elsewhere. Because of COVID-19, many businesses halted tech industry recruitment and opted to reskill their current workforce instead. Internal mobility increased by 20% since the pandemic, according to a LinkedIn study.

Companies used their internal human resources departments and learning and development teams to offer professional development opportunities. This effort helped employees boost their qualifications and secure new or expanded internal positions.

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