Dice Sentiment Report: Do Tech Pros Want to Jump Jobs?

During the pandemic and the so-called Great Resignation, tech professionals frequently jumped jobs in search of better opportunities and compensation. After a year of turmoil in the tech industry, including high-profile layoffs at some of the biggest companies, are they still enthusiastic about leaping at new opportunities? And if so, what are they looking for in their next role?

According to Dice’s latest Sentiment Report, the answer to that first question is a big “yes.” In 2024, 39 percent of tech professionals are engaged in job searches, up seven percentage points from 32 percent in 2023. Additionally, the desire to switch employers has grown, with 67 percent considering a change this year, compared to 60 percent last year.

In other words, headlines about layoffs and hiring freezes aren’t dissuading tech pros from looking for that next golden position. (By the way, here’s a quick methodology breakdown for all of you survey aficionados out there: the Q2 2024 Technology Professionals Sentiment Survey was conducted online via email June 5 – 27, 2024. The survey generated 520 qualified responses from fully employed technology professionals residing in the U.S.)

But what do they actually want?

In one aspect, tech professionals are clear about what they seek in their next role, with nearly all job seekers (94 percent) targeting full-time positions. Other primary motivations for considering a switch include higher compensation (65 percent), greater responsibility (42 percent), and improved benefits (36 percent). These factors highlight a workforce that is not only financially motivated but also seeking career growth and stability.

Dissatisfaction appears to be a strong driver for those looking to change employers. Tech professionals likely to switch are significantly more dissatisfied with their overall career, current job, and the management over them. They are 11 times more dissatisfied with their current job than those who are not considering a change.

This dissatisfaction is also compounded by a higher rate of burnout, which is 3.3 times more common among those planning to switch employers. In fact, the leading cause of burnout cited by these professionals is a “toxic work environment,” reported by 28 percent of those likely to switch— followed by unfair pay, which was mentioned by 21 percent of the tech professionals in this group.

Working in the tech industry is the clear preference of most tech professionals. Most tech professionals can find roles in industries outside of tech that still utilize their specialized tech skills; however, working within tech is the clear preference. In fact, nearly 7 in 10 tech professionals would most like to work for a tech company, and 21 percent prefer to work for Big Tech companies specifically.

Open-ended responses told us that the preference for big tech companies is driven by a combination of career advancement opportunities, financial incentives, innovative work environments, and the prestige associated with leading industry players.

This is only a small portion of the insights delivered by this year’s Sentiment Report. Check it out for even more information on how tech professionals feel about their jobs, salaries, and critical issues such as remote work.