One of the leading industries in Scotland that has shown to be underappreciated, is technology. Rural areas, in particular, need it, and given that the Scottish landscape is 90% rural, this is causing quite a problem across the country. Recruiters are having trouble filling the rising number of tech roles that are rolling out, but why is that? Maybe you can find a way that you stand out amongst our answers. Read on to find out.
Shortage of Skilled Talent
The first of the hiring challenges in technology is the issue that’s running across all industries at the moment: there is a shortage of talent. That might seem like a slap in the face considering how many of us have managed to gain a higher education, but there are a few factors to that, including university degree skills not matching the real world and a lack of workplace experience.
But the one that makes the most sense in the tech industry is the rate at which technology evolves. We’re now in a world with AI, which literature told us wouldn’t be possible until the year 3,000. This means there are a lot of specialized areas like AI, machine learning, cloud computing, etc. that are being developed by people who simply couldn’t study it in university, because it didn’t exist.
This talent shortage has a knock-on effect on businesses, wherein the talent shortage affects companies’ ability to grow, innovate, and remain competitive. Projects get delayed, opportunities are missed and might result in companies ending up relocating out of Scotland due to hiring challenges. This is a shame for the country in general which is blossoming in a lot of interesting industries, offering many new opportunities to the locals.
Diversity challenges
Another hiring challenge in technology that the industry has historically struggled with is diversity, particularly in terms of gender and ethnic representation. Companies may find it challenging to attract and retain diverse talent due to cultural biases, lack of role models, or perceived barriers to entry.
Additionally, companies tend to favour a cultural fit, so recruiters’ attention might be in the wrong place, looking at candidates who would align with the company’s values, work style, and team dynamics, taking away from the important skills.
Competition from other industries
Technology is one of the biggest industries in Scotland right now, but it is growing, and slowly reaching students as career line that feels stable and even possible. However, one of the biggest hiring challenges in technology is that there are a lot of industries that might give competition, such as manufacturing, which has declined in recent years but is still a staple of the economy. Creative industries are also competitive industries, which is attractive to young people, but hard to crack into even in an emerging landscape like Glasgow. Tech has to bat off both dreamers and practical workers looking for longevity in their careers.
Location preferences
In all of these instances, it’s not thought to be common to be possible to do any of them in rural towns and cities. Graduates leave university with an idea to head to London where tech would naturally be a hub. However, the advancement of technology and changes in workplace culture is making working tech while living in the country a much more viable option. With remote working as an option, people living in more rural areas, which make up a majority of the Scottish landscape, don’t need to relocate to the city to find work in tech.
Attracting and Retaining Talent
Companies have a lot of resources at their disposal to attract top tech talent in Scotland, as we’ve covered in another blog. You might want to consider offering competitive benefits such as compensation, and job perks, but also allow your staff room to grow with professional development opportunities.
However, tech is one place where the work-from-home model is a good option. One of the hiring challenges in technology that you don’t have to worry about is being physically there. Sitting in front of a computer in an office or in the home is six and a half-a-dozen to the employer but will make a world of difference to the employee. If you can offer a fairer work-life balance by offering remote or hybrid working, you’ll stand out.
Future Outlook and Recommendations
Solving these hiring challenges in technology in Scotland can only be beneficial for the country as a whole. Tech drives everything nowadays, especially the major Scottish industries of energy, finance, tourism, and life sciences. With the hiring challenges in technology solved, we should see Scotland thrive.