U.K. Professionals Demand More Technology

By Duncan Macrae

Business professionals are demanding better access to technology in the workplace, even though they are increasingly concerned that improved connectivity is damaging their work-life balance.

This was the finding of a study by independent job board CV-Library, the U.K.’s largest independent job board, which sought to determine how technology in the workplace is impacting the country’s professionals.

Employability

Of the more than 2,400 U.K. workers across all sectors surveyed, 86.2 percent believe being tech-savvy makes them more employable, with telecoms (100 percent), public sector (96.5 percent), consulting (96 percent), media (95.5 percent) and accounting (95 percent) feeling most strongly about this.

Some 74.5 percent of workers feel that access to, and understanding of, new technologies is essential to success within their industries.

Yet, only 61.8 percent feel their employer provides adequate access to necessary technology, and that number drops to 40 percent for trainees.

In addition to this, 68.3 percent of professionals revealed that they would feel more valued by their employers if they received better access to technology in the office, showing a strong correlation between technology in the workplace and job satisfaction.

Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library, said: “It’s clear that U.K. workers recognize a strong correlation between technology in the workplace and being successful in their careers. And by offering improved access to technology, businesses could improve their chances at attracting strong, tech-savvy candidates to their vacancies.”

However, the statistics don’t all paint a rosy picture when it comes to the relationship U.K. professionals have with technology. Workers admit to being increasingly concerned about how better connectivity impacts their personal lives with 44.7 percent believing that increased access has a negative impact on their work-life balance.

Biggins added: “As smaller businesses leverage technological advancements to streamline processes, it’s important that they understand how introducing new technology will impact their workforce.

“Our survey shows that professionals are increasingly concerned about maintaining a work-life balance and responsibility falls on employers to create a positive working environment whenever possible.”