5 Reasons Why IT is Going Remote

The rise in Remote IT positions has been slowly but surely spreading from company to company for years now. While the COVID-19 pandemic certainly accelerated this process, during the years since the world came out of lock down, it’s become increasingly apparent that, far from being a short term fad – these remote IT positions are here to stay. As a matter of fact, they’re becoming more common than ever before.

But why are IT jobs going remote? And what does this mean for the future of IT work? 

Today we’ll be exploring the five main driving forces behind the transition to remote IT work, what they mean for those working in IT, and exactly why it is that, in an increasingly online marketplace, IT skills are more valuable than ever before.

1. A General Trend Towards Remote Work

Let’s start with the obvious. IT isn’t the only sector that’s been trending remote in the last few years – far from it, in fact.

Through 2020 and 2021, as many companies found themselves continuing to pay the upkeep on offices they weren’t using while their staff learned how to maintain productivity from the comfort of their own homes, it became increasingly apparent that many jobs were now far better suited to remote working. It wasn’t long, therefore, before many companies started pushing for no office at all, saving them a great deal of money in the long run.

Meanwhile, new entrepreneurial ventures – particularly those in the tech space – realised that they could slash their startup costs by building their companies on fully remote foundations.

Put simply, once it became clear that employers going remote could save money without sacrificing productivity, the writing was on the wall for many traditional office spaces. 

2. Most Remote Work is Digital

All that being said, there will always be some jobs that require physical spaces and some positions are definitely far better suited to remote work than others. Viewed through this lens, it’s easy to see why it is that IT jobs are going remote.

Most IT work takes place behind a computer. The only exceptions to this tend to be in companies with large amounts of hardware that needs maintaining, repairing, and replacing – all of which becomes a non-issue once you’ve gone remote.

Furthermore, as more businesses attempt to digitise with online stores and interactive apps, the demand for IT work with a software focus continues to rise. From designing websites to setting up database security systems, IT only continues to be a natural fit for remote work.

3. People Want Remote IT Positions

We’ve talked a lot about the needs of employers, but let’s talk about employees for a moment. Feelings on remote work among employees can definitely be mixed – particularly for those who have learned to thrive in an office environment – but for many younger workers who’ve grown up with social media and online communication, the notion of an online workplace feels almost like second nature.

As if that wasn’t enough, remote IT positions offer a freedom that was once practically unheard of. Remote IT workers don’t need to commute, meaning they can live and work wherever they want. Not needing to commute also saves them time during the day, not to mention the money involved in transport costs.

Add to that the numerous ways in which working remotely helps those with external responsibilities such as parents/carers to maintain a healthy work/life balance and it’s no wonder that the companies offering remote work seem to have a far easier time attracting the very best talent.

4. The Rise of IT Contractors

The online marketplace has provided many opportunities for those looking to break out of the traditional 9-5, not least of which has been the uptick in contract/consultant work. One problem with IT/software related jobs is that the demand for them tends to wax and wane depending on the needs of a company.

This phenomenon is perhaps best exemplified by the games industry. Games – video games to be specific – are an inherently digital medium. As such, the majority of game development work can broadly be categorised as IT. What might come as a surprise, therefore, is the fact that game development is an incredibly unstable job.

Over the course of a game’s production the ideal team size can expand and contract rapidly leading to regular layoffs and rehiring. Developers might be brought on early to help build the tools but once those tools are in place many of the developers find themselves out of a job.

So how do you find stable work in the games industry?

The answer, for many, is contracting. Contract workers can be brought in to tackle specific aspects of development and when they’re done, they move on to another project. This benefits the studios because they don’t need to hire staff they won’t need a month down the line and it benefits the developers because it gives more predictable/stable work.

This same logic can also be applied to many other IT related fields. Outsourcing allows for independent work to flourish while giving companies far more flexibility in their hiring decisions.

5. IT Skills Can Be Taught

Of course, there’s one more reason why IT jobs are going remote and it’s possibly the most disruptive of all – mentoring.

In the past, many IT jobs required qualifications that could be hard to attain without years of schooling. For some this could be a form of financial/geographical gatekeeping, making it impossible to gain the prerequisite skills.

With online mentoring, experts can share their knowledge at a price they deem reasonable. Meanwhile, those looking to learn have far more opportunities to work with experienced professionals who can show them the ropes and help them find their way into the industry.

If you’re looking to find a remote IT position that lets you take charge of your work, then sign up today with Career Navig8r!