Despite the UK’s economic decline in recent years, demand for web developers is higher than ever before. Salary increases and the rising job availability in web development reflect this continuing trend.
CWJobs carried out research over seven years and along with data and customer insight, found the following facts about the web development industry.
Industry trends in the profession between 2008-2014:
- 40 per cent of contract positions now pay over £100,000
- Roles paying over £50,000 have increased by 3.6 per cent
- Permanent roles outnumber contract positions by 3:1
- 1.7 per cent increase in IT salaries (compared to 0.5 per cent annual inflation)
- 57 per cent of London web developer roles pay over £50,000
Between 2008-2014 there has also been a growth in companies who are looking to recruit candidates with specialist skills. Key skills include Agile, PHP, Python, iOS and Android. During the same period there has been a 72970% growth for Android and 5327% for iOS web developers.
Despite Microsoft.NET demand declining by 52% over the last six years, out of all web development roles, Microsoft.NET still accounts for 9% of all positions in the industry.
Alastair Hodgson, principal interface developer at twentysix digital, provided insight on what makes an employer appealing: “I’ve progressed from a junior web designer to a more specialised role as a principle interface developer. What I really love about my role is that every day is different, and the technology is always advancing which can be both exciting and daunting.”
“The whole team at twentysix is fantastic; I feel secure in my job, have the backing of management and feel like an integral member of the team. I also enjoy the projects I work on, they’re challenging and sometimes frustrating, but that’s what being a developer is all about. The social aspect is really good too – plenty of nights out and parties. We’ve got a good little eco-system here at 26.”
Where to work in the UK
London offers candidates the best salary for a web development role, but the UK also sees other emerging ‘tech-cities’ such as Bristol and Cambridge. These two cities are able to compete with London’s attractive salaries as they offer a lower cost of living.
www.cwjobs.co.uk/blog/skills-gap-it-sector
