Digital Skills Crisis Looms Because Employers Refuse to Offer Relocation Packages

A survey shows that the vast majority of employees would be willing to relocate if they were offered the right relocation package, but that the unwillingness of employers to provide these mean a digital skills crisis looms.

New research from digital marketing recruitment firm, The Candidate, shows that 92% of people would be happy to move homes and town if the proper financial incentive was there.

However, only 17% of respondents say that they ever been offered such a package.

The research found that rapid expansion of the digital sector has meant employees with the desired skills are not always as close by potential employers that require their skills, hence a digital skills gap.

"The digital skills gap is a huge concern for many companies, with many struggling to recruit suitable candidates and from our research, relocation packages seem to be the key pull factor when it comes to attracting a fresh wave of talent into companies," says Brian Matthews, The Candidate's managing partner.

Half of those surveyed said that they would be willing to travel for an hour to get to work, but that drops to just 9% that said that they would spend an hour and a half on their work commute.

"The fact that people are only prepared to commute to work for an hour, further shows the importance for employers to start searching a wider area in order to find the best candidate for the job," he continued.

"There are many jobs available in the digital sector in digital hubs around the country but it is the responsibility of the employer to make the move as attractive as possible in order to bring the best talent to their territory and to begin tackling the skills shortage."