What Matters Most to Tech Professionals Today
2022 Tech Sentiment Report
Welcome
Hello, and welcome to the 2022 Tech Sentiment Report! Understanding sentiment, including how technology professionals feel and what they want and expect from their employers, can provide those hiring them with a tremendous advantage, especially in a market where tech talent remains in high demand. When we release sentiment data, one of the most common questions we get from HR professionals and recruiters is, “How can I use this to enhance my hiring process?”
Our goal with this report is to answer that question, as even the best data is only as valuable as how it's put into action. We’ve included data and analysis on job satisfaction, interest in changing employers and preferred work style from tech professionals; and, brand new this year, average attrition rates and times-to-hire and much more, directly from your peers.
Check out the executive summary below to read what we found to be the biggest takeaways from this year’s data before diving in. We hope you find the information in this report useful, and that it adds a valuable component to your hiring and retention strategies in the months to come.
Art Zeile
CEO, Dice
Executive Summary
More technology professionals are likely to change employers. Despite a less optimistic outlook on the economy, 52% of respondents indicated they are likely to switch jobs in the next year (up from 44% last year). This is great news for companies hiring tech talent where supply continues to outpace demand and concerning news for any organization currently employing tech professionals. The need for tech talent shows no signs of slowing and this increase in openness to opportunity means recruiters are more likely to get a response from both active and passive candidates.
Fully remote work remains important to most technology professionals, surpassing interest in a hybrid working model. Sixty percent of tech professionals ranked 100% remote work as their most desired workplace setting compared to 53% in 2021. Understanding why they now prefer working remotely full time and what, if anything, would entice them to return to the office a few days a week will help employers navigate remote work policies and return-to-office initiatives in the new working world.
An employer’s brand and company culture are driving factors in technology professionals’ decision to join a new employer. Nearly 90% of tech professionals feel an employer’s brand is important when considering a new employer and nearly 8 in 10 said they would not apply for a higher paying job at a company with a bad reputation. If you’re not investing in your brand and reputation as an employer and ensuring your company culture is one that supports employee morale and creativity, you’re already behind.
Employers plan on employees returning to the office in the near future, but their return-to-office incentives don’t align with what technology professionals want most. Almost 70% of employers have future plans for a hybrid work environment, but only 30% of tech professionals indicated a preference for hybrid work. To entice employees to return to the office at least three days a week, employers are offering incentives like free food, casual dress codes and comfortable furniture. For tech professionals, however, increased pay or other monetary incentives are most likely to attract them back to an office environment.
Table of Contents
Click a topic to explore the data.
Methodology
Dice conducted two separate surveys to produce the data and insights in the 2022 Tech Sentiment Report.
The Q3 2022 Technologist Sentiment Survey was conducted online via email from July 8–29, 2022. The survey generated 950 qualified responses from fully employed technology professionals residing in the U.S.
The Q3 2022 Employer Sentiment Survey was conducted between September 28 and October 5, 2022, and generated 350 qualified responses from human resources professionals from direct hire organizations which recruit and employ tech talent.
The 2022 Tech Sentiment Report includes historical trend analyses (when available) from the following Dice surveys:
Q4 2021 Salary Survey: Conducted August 10–October 10, 2021. Generated 6,226 responses.
Q2 2021 Technologist Sentiment Survey: Conducted April 16–23, 2021. Generated 1,033 responses.
Q4 2020 Salary Survey: Conducted September 26–December 6, 2020. Generated 7,746 responses.
Q2 2020 Technologist Sentiment Survey: Conducted April 17–June 26, 2020. Generated 771 responses.
Where not specifically noted, data visualizations in this report use data from the Q3 2022 Technologist Sentiment Survey.