Over 13% of all Scottish jobs in digital sector

13.22% of jobs in Scotland are in the digital sector according to numbers by Adzuna analysed by Tech Nation for the UK’s Digital Economy Council.

Since January 2022, there have been over 20,000 tech roles advertised in Scotland, with average advertised salaries hitting £52,893 across the country.

Digital Secretary Nadine Dorries said:

“The UK is enjoying a golden age in tech. Not only are we one of the best places in the world to start digital businesses, but there are countless opportunities for people to enter the sector and flourish in their career.

“We’re working hard to open doors for people from all walks of life so that they can gain the skills and knowledge needed to make the most of our booming tech industry.”

The need for upskilling

A survey by Tech Nation and YouGov showed that having tech skills was essential for job security and pay increase . During the COVID pandemic an increased number of people have chosen to learn coding, cloud technologies or data visualisation skills.

Companies are also focussing on on-the-job training for future tech talents and tech companies like Amazon and Google have also launched digital skills programmes to train employees across the UK.

Software developers and cyber professionals in high demand

Software development are the most sought after roles in the UK and this is for both tech and non tech businesses.

Other in-demand jobs include business analysts (+650% compared to 2019), data analysts (+520%) and product managers (+710%). Business analysts are now the second most in-demand tech role in the UK, having overtaken engineers.

Top 10 available UK tech jobs

1. Software developer

2. Business analyst

3. Java developer

4. DevOps engineer

5. Project manager

6. Engineer

7. Data analyst

8. Product manager

9. Consultant

10. IT system architect

The prevalence of data

Data is now the number one desired skill in UK tech with a 1006% increase in demand for data skills since 2019.

Dr George Windsor, Data and Research Director at Tech Nation, said:

“The UK is continuing to be the leading light for tech in Europe and the scale of exciting job opportunities across the country is a reflection of that. It’s interesting to see how companies are responding to changing challenges, such as the rise in the demand for data skills and an increase in security skills across the board. It’s not just technical skills that can make a difference – but communication and management experience are increasingly important too. For anyone looking to enter this fast-paced and innovative industry, there is a role for you if you want it.”

Paul Lewis, chief customer officer at Adzuna, said:

“UK tech has consistently been one of the fastest-growing industries for job opportunities over the past few years as companies compete for skilled staff to enable them to grow in a competitive environment. Though we are starting to see the impact of the wider slowdown begin to affect the wider tech landscape, the rapid rise in digital tools and services since 2020 means that roles for software developers remain the most in-demand by companies across the board. Security specialists are also in hot demand as companies adapt to changing business challenges like increased cyber threats.”

Euan Blair, CEO and founder of Multiverse, said: “

The shortage of tech skills is a huge challenge to companies everywhere, but it also means incredible opportunities are being opened up to well-paid, long-term careers. As a tech industry we’ve a duty to make sure these jobs are accessible to talented people regardless of background or financial circumstances. We’ve built an outstanding alternative to university to deliver on exactly this goal. Ultimately whether it’s a start-up or a large corporate, the companies that get their skills pipelines right will have an enormous competitive advantage.”

Photo by Vojtech Okenka