Tech sector surges back as job numbers rise to pre-lockdown levels
By Lauren Towner · 12 October 2020
Hiring in the tech sector is back to pre-pandemic levels, data from jobs site Otta suggests, and it’s fintech, social and gaming unicorns leading the way. September saw 3,495 tech roles advertised in the UK, nearing the number in March (3,552) before the country’s coronavirus lockdown began.
For some roles, such as engineers, the number of advertised positions is now higher than it was before the pandemic. Last month’s figure was a 71 per cent increase on the number of jobs available in June (2,041).
The good news for London’s burgeoning tech sector comes as other industries are facing devastation amid the uncertainty of the pandemic. Otta, a start-up dedicated to helping job seekers finding roles at fast-growing companies, said the resurgence demonstrated the tech industry’s resilience and ability to adapt to challenging environments.
Otta CEO Sam Franklin said: “It’s no surprise the tech companies are hiring again. They’re challenging the status quo, offering innovations, and operating in big markets. Many have also been working on digital solutions that quickly became the only option available during the pandemic. For example, Hopin has built software to bring large-scale conferences online.”
He also pointed to their success with venture funding, with UK start-ups raising £663 million during lockdown with investors showing interest in fintech, artificial intelligence, security, and blockchain technologies.