The world of work has witnessed several shifts in the last 12 months, prompting debates around returning to the office versus flexible working, the risks and rewards of embracing AI, and whether degrees are losing their importance in an era of skills-based hiring.

According to new research released by Hays, flexible working patterns continue to be the norm for technology professionals, as 43% currently work in a hybrid way, closely followed by 42% who are based fully remotely.

Flexible working still highly sought after across tech

The research, based on a survey of nearly 15,000 professionals and employers including over 1,350 respondents within the tech sector, reveals that only 15% of tech professionals are based fully in the office. In stark comparison, 43% of professionals across the UK report being based solely in the workplace.

As it stands, the majority (73%) of tech employers offer hybrid working to their staff and 68% anticipate that their hybrid working offering will stay the same over the next 12 months. However, just over a quarter (26%) of tech employers predict their staff will be required in the office more often.

Looking to the year ahead, 41% of professionals working across tech plan to find a role that is more of a mix of hybrid and 40% intend to secure a position that is fully remote. Only 7% plan to find a role that is based fully in the office.

Six out of 10 tech professionals say they would not consider accepting a job in the future that didn’t offer hybrid working, versus 40% who would, whereas over half (57%) of UK workers overall say they would accept a job in the future if it didn’t offer hybrid working.

AI use higher in tech than UK workers 

Whilst AI is still a relatively new phenomenon in the workplace, more than a third (38%) of tech professionals have used AI tools in their current role, notably higher than the number of professionals overall who have used AI in their position – only one in five (20%).

Attitudes towards AI within the tech industry are somewhat optimistic; whilst only a quarter (25%) of professionals overall think AI tools will have a positive impact on their job, 45% of tech professionals are confident AI will positively affect their role. That being said, nearly a quarter (23%) of tech professionals are unsure how AI might impact their role, whereas the same number of tech staff (23%) believe AI won’t affect their role at all.

Positively, most (74%) tech professionals believe they have the right tools to utilise AI, in comparison to 52% of professionals overall who believe their skills are up to scratch. However, over half (54%) of professionals working across tech say their employer is not helping to prepare them for the use of AI in the workplace.

In terms of AI uptake and usage in the year ahead, over two thirds (68%) of tech employers intend to allow staff to use AI tools in the future but will monitor usage, followed by 20% who will allow unmonitored usage. On the other hand, 7% plan to ban tools and 5% already have implemented a ban.

Skills could trump degrees in new hiring era

When it comes to skills-based hiring, whilst 19% of those in charge of hiring tech professionals believe a degree is very important, 43% say a degree is quite important but not essential, and over a third (38%) say it’s not important at all.

Most (78%) tech employers say they are likely to hire a professional who does not possess all the required skills, with the intention of upskilling them. On top of this, three-quarters (75%) of employers believe an employee’s willingness to learn is more important than their existing skillset.

James Hallahan, chief strategy officer at Hays, comments: “Despite a widespread return-to-office push in recent months, our research demonstrates that tech professionals are holding on to the draw of flexible working. In order to attract and retain talent in the year ahead, employers ought to acknowledge the ongoing appeal of this flexibility.

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“Although there is a continued sense of uncertainty towards the role AI could play across the tech landscape, it’s promising to see that many tech employees feel equipped with the right skills to make the best use of AI. There is still room for improvement, however, when it comes to employers upskilling their staff to keep up with the pace of change in our ever-evolving digital age.

It’s clear that hiring managers are becoming more open-minded and willing to welcome on board a diverse range of tech professionals regardless of their educational background or even current skillset. Whilst degrees are still valuable, we are likely to see more employers hiring for skills and potential in the year ahead.”