Dice Tech Sentiment Report

Welcome

2024 has not been a comfortable year for most tech professionals. Once again, layoffs at prominent tech companies have roiled the industry, and the number of new roles on the market is down significantly from the recent highs of 2021 and 2022. Tech professionals on online forums and social media are venting their frustration – highlighting the grueling job search process and fierce competition for a few desirable roles. Without a doubt, the tech job and career landscape has seen better days.

In our 2024 Tech Sentiment Survey, we sought the true sentiments of the tech professionals and HR professionals living these realities out every day. What we found tells a more nuanced story. As expected in a tough climate, the economic outlook among tech professionals is more negative than in previous years. Equally concerning, many of them feel their bargaining power slipping away and are reluctant to take risks.

Yet amidst these difficulties, there’s a growing sense of resilience and optimism. The industry remains a beacon of growth, offering tech professionals competitive salaries, exciting projects, interesting opportunities to learn new skills, and enviable benefits. The emergence of AI stands out as a bright spot for the industry, driving a new era of innovation and opportunities that were unimaginable just a few years ago. Tech professionals are feeling optimistic about where the industry will be in five years. And finally, many recruiters are enjoying accelerated hiring timelines, an outcome that improves their day-to-day workflow.

As an HR professional, understanding these dual sentiments—economic concern paired with a quiet optimism—can be your key to connecting with candidates on a deeper level. Tech professionals are a diverse and multifaceted group, each with unique experiences and perspectives.

As you navigate this report, we encourage you to embrace this complexity, just as we have in compiling this data. Each year, this report offers us a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape of the tech industry, a journey we hope you find as insightful and rewarding as we do.