Brits eye careers in digital and data as job cuts loom

corona_2British workers are increasingly turning to technology courses as they seek to either retrain or boost their existing skills in the face of what many are predicting will be a Covid-19 jobs bloodbath.

With the latest figures showing that 649,000 fewer people in the UK were employed in June compared with March when lockdown began, online searches for training have increased in the UK by over 40% on average.

The results show a significant rise in searches when compared with 2019, with user interface and user experience the most in demand skills on the list, increasing by a huge 62% and 56% respectively. Meanwhile, searches data analytics courses have risen 37%, software engineer training is up 36% and web developer has increased by 27%.

With over 13,000 technology jobs posted on Indeed.co.uk in the past fortnight alone, many people are now looking to enter the sector with the relevant skillset as their next career move.

Amidst this uncertain economic backdrop, a new scholarship programme has been developed by Ironhack and Landing.Jobs to help people switch to a career in tech and combat unemployment with £232,000 worth of scholarships on offer, covering full or partial tuition.

Ironhack head of remote Álvaro Rojas said: “Both Ironhack and Landing.Jobs have been playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of work in our communities. We have a shared belief that the tech ecosystem will provide the best employment opportunities moving forward. We have created our new scholarship programme to support career changers and those looking to upskill with the very best training available.

“When you consider the current employment landscape and look at the experiences of those who have graduated with us, there really is no better time to become a web-developer, UX/UI designer or data analyst. Our scholarships are designed to enable people to change their lives and transition into a career they love.”

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