LinkedIn has become a crucial platform for fostering conversations, networking with industry professionals, and gathering valuable insights through direct feedback. At Gravity IT Resources, we take immense pride in using this platform to build meaningful connections, spark discussions, and better understand the challenges and priorities of today’s IT leaders and professionals.
To further engage with our LinkedIn community in 2024, we launched a monthly poll series aimed at igniting conversations about key trends, priorities, and challenges in the tech industry. The series reached a diverse audience, from hiring managers to tech leaders and job seekers. This blog will recap some of the most impactful poll questions and the insights we gained, while emphasizing why platforms like LinkedIn are essential for industry collaboration and engagement.
The Importance of Community Feedback in IT
Gravity has always believed that community-driven insights are integral to success. Today, many of the world’s leading organizations rely on collective feedback to better understand market demands, anticipate challenges, and craft future strategies.
“Companies that harness the power of collective intelligence and community engagement will be better positioned to adapt to technological disruptions and emerging trends.” — McKinsey & Company, New Year’s Resolutions for Tech in 2025
Through our LinkedIn poll series, we tapped into the collective wisdom of our community to foster conversation over the rapidly evolving landscape of IT.
Highlights from Gravity’s Most Engaging Polls in 2024
Here are five standout LinkedIn polls from 2024, showcasing the questions we asked, the audience’s top responses, and what they reveal about the industry:
1. What’s the Biggest Challenge in Tech Hiring in 2024?
Responses:
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- Remote/Hybrid Adaptation (35%)
- Employee Retention (24%)
- Right Technical Skills (23%)
- Competitive Talent Market (18%)
Insights:
The results highlight the growing complexity of managing remote and hybrid teams. It’s no surprise, given that companies continue to refine their work models to attract and retain top tech talent. Employee retention and skills gaps remain persistent challenges, driving further demand for flexible work options and professional development programs.
2. What Tech Role is Your Company Prioritizing for Hiring in 2024?
Responses:
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- Data Scientists/Data Analysts (29%)
- AI/ML Engineers (27%)
- Cybersecurity Specialists (23%)
- Full-Stack Developers (21%)
Insights:
These results underscore the industry’s increased focus on leveraging data for decision-making and enhancing operational efficiency. The rise of AI/ML and the growing threat of cyberattacks have led to a surge in demand for engineers specializing in these areas. Notably, data roles lead the pack, reinforcing that data remains the backbone of digital transformation.
3. What’s Your Main Method for Sourcing Tech Talent in 2024?
Responses:
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- Internal Referrals/Networking (39%)
- Posting on Job Boards (37%)
- Partnering with Staffing Firms (24%)
- Attending Job Fairs (0%)
Insights:
Referral-driven hiring emerged as the favored strategy for sourcing tech talent—a validation of Gravity’s referral-based approach to recruitment. This method fosters trust, accelerates hiring timelines, and enhances the likelihood of cultural fit.
4. What Flexible Work Option Matters Most in Your IT Career?
Responses:
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- Full-Time Remote (67%)
- Hybrid Model (17%)
- Flexible Hours (9%)
- 4-Day Work Week (6%)
Insights:
The preference for remote work remains dominant, highlighting an ongoing shift in workplace expectations among IT professionals. Organizations must address these preferences to remain competitive in attracting and retaining top talent.
5. How Has Your Tech Hiring Budget Changed for 2024 Compared to 2023?
Responses:
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- Decreased Slightly (51%)
- Remained the Same (29%)
- Increased Slightly (8%)
- Increased Significantly (>20%) (13%)
Insights:
A tightening of tech hiring budgets is evident, with over half of respondents reporting slight decreases. This reflects broader economic pressures, emphasizing the need for efficient hiring processes and strategic workforce planning.
Key Learnings and the Path Forward
The Gravity LinkedIn Poll Series provided invaluable insights into the challenges and priorities of IT professionals in 2024. Here are some core takeaways and how they shape our perspective moving forward:
- Understanding Workforce Preferences Matters: Flexibility in work environments remains a primary factor in attracting and retaining tech talent. Employers must continue adapting to remote and hybrid models while exploring innovative ways to engage employees.
- Data and AI Drive Talent Needs: There is a clear, accelerating demand for roles in data science, AI/ML, and cybersecurity. Organizations must remain agile in sourcing and training talent in these critical areas to stay competitive.
- Referral-Based Recruitment is a Standout Strategy: The effectiveness of internal referrals highlights the value of leveraging trusted networks for hiring. Gravity’s “referral-driven” methodology aligns perfectly with this trend, enabling companies to rapidly connect with passive yet highly qualified candidates.
Looking ahead, we plan to expand our LinkedIn poll series to tackle timely topics such as generative AI adoption, cloud cost optimization, and the future of ERP systems.
As Deloitte’s Tech Trends 2025 report highlights, “By 2025, the tech workforce will look vastly different as organizations embrace new technologies and upskill their talent to meet evolving demands.”
Networking and open discussions are key to learning from each other and staying ahead in this rapidly changing landscape. Our goal remains the same: to empower our LinkedIn community with thought-provoking discussions and practical insights that drive better decision-making.
Join the Conversation on LinkedIn
Platforms like LinkedIn offer a powerful way to foster collaboration, share knowledge, and tackle shared challenges. We encourage you to follow Gravity IT Resources on LinkedIn, participate in our monthly polls, and engage with other IT leaders. Together, we can continue shaping the future of the tech industry—one conversation at a time.
Stay inspired, stay connected, and as always, stay curious.
About Gravity IT Resources
Gravity is a Human Capital Management company headquartered in Fort Lauderdale with offices across the country including Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Columbus, Cincinnati, DC, Denver, Salt Lake City, San Diego and Tampa. Our company has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as an “Inc. 500″ and “Inc. 5000” award winner for four consecutive years (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) and one of the fastest growing privately held companies in the United States for the last 6 consecutive years (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024).
Gravity helps prominent clients like Salesforce, Chewy, Carnival Cruise Lines, AutoNation and hundreds of other big and small companies to identify, recruit and hire IT professionals for their most critical projects and jobs. Our recruitment spans across various roles, including artificial intelligence (AI) specialists, software engineers, cloud engineers, project managers, data engineers, business analysts, security engineers and more.
To serve clients effectively, Gravity offers a range of delivery models and services, encompassing:
- Contract, Contract-to-Hire & Direct Hire of US-based Resources
- Nearshore Staff Augmentation
- Managed Team Services
- SAP Consulting
To learn more about Gravity IT Resources practices, career opportunities and culture, visit https://www.gravityitresources.com/.
