- Data from Randstad shows that IT talent want more flexibility compared to other industries
- 80% of IT workers consider flexibility in where they work as essential, 13 percentage points higher than the global average across other sectors
- Besides flexibility, 43% (global: 31%) have left a job due to a lack of career advancement opportunities, underscoring the importance of professional growth in this sector.
Insights from Randstad’s 2025 Workmonitor reveal that talent in the IT industries value flexibility in where they work more highly than other sectors, such as Education, Healthcare and Professional Services.
The survey, which captures the views of over 26,000 workers across 35 markets, found that 40% of IT workers have left roles due to a lack of flexibility, and a further 56% said they would quit their job if requests for flexible work weren’t taken into account. The global average for these actions were lower at 44% and 36% respectively.
The findings show that for IT talent, flexibility isn’t regarded solely as a benefit. It is often a dealbreaker, shaping their career choices around where, when and how they work.
flexibility fosters community and trust
Nearly three-quarters (73%) of IT workers report that remote working options would strengthen their sense of community with their colleagues, a far greater proportion than respondents across other sectors (58%).
Meanwhile, 68% further state that they would trust their employer more if they provided personalized work benefits (e.g., flexible hours, flexible locations, flexible intensity of work), compared to 56% global average.
With the vast majority (80%) of IT workers considering flexibility as vital, businesses that fail to embrace this shift may struggle to attract and retain the skilled workforce they need to thrive.
employers are responding — but is it enough?
Randstad’s 2025 Talent Trends report, which surveyed 1,060 talent leaders across 21 markets, found that businesses are increasingly adapting to these changing expectations:
- 35% of employers now offer flexible work arrangements to attract talent (up 9 percentage points from last year).
- 34% have introduced flexible policies to improve retention (up 8 points).
- 81% of leaders believe flexible working arrangements help create equity at work.
career progression matters just as much as flexibility
Beyond flexibility, career growth is another priority for IT professionals, who are looking for more than just a paycheck.
Nearly half (43%) of IT workers have left a job due to a lack of advancement and promotion opportunities — significantly higher than the global average across sectors of 31%. This aligns with their strong focus on career growth, with 81% saying that advancement opportunities are important to them, compared to 71% across all sectors.
The findings show that to attract and retain top IT talent, employers must take a holistic view of their workplace. Flexibility and career growth opportunities are key.
Graig Paglieri, Randstad Digital Chief Executive, commented:
“At Randstad Digital, we recognize the importance of aligning workplace flexibility with both talent expectations and organizational objectives. Our extensive experience in the IT sector has shown that personalized work benefits and flexible options are essential not only for attracting top talent but also for retaining them in competitive markets. Policies should align with organizational, team and individual needs, ensuring a flexible and tailored approach.”
about randstad
Randstad is a global talent leader with the vision to be the world’s most equitable and specialized talent company. As a partner for talent and through our four specializations - Operational, Professional, Digital and Enterprise - we provide clients with the high-quality, diverse and agile workforces that they need to succeed in a talent scarce world. We help people secure meaningful roles, develop relevant skills and find purpose and belonging in their workplace. Through the value we create, we are committed to a better and more sustainable future for all.
Headquartered in the Netherlands, Randstad operates in 39 markets and has approximately 40,000 employees. In 2024, we supported over 1.7 million talent to find work and generated a revenue of € 24.1 billion. Randstad N.V. is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam.
For more information, see www.randstad.com.
about randstad digital
Randstad Digital is a trusted digital enablement partner that facilitates accelerated transformation for businesses by providing global talent, capacity, and solutions across specialized domains. Our digital talent solutions allow you to seamlessly scale your team while connecting you with skilled professionals around the world who align with your chosen technologies. Our focus lies in managed programs, and we empower businesses to move at speed and achieve goals efficiently. We support four service lines, including customer experience, cloud & infrastructure, data & analytics, and digital & product engineering in addition to three engagement models, including talent services, global delivery centers and managed solutions. For more information, see www.randstaddigital.com.
about Workmonitor
The Randstad Workmonitor, now in its 22nd year, explores the views of working people in 35 markets across Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. It aims to provide an inside look at their attitudes, ambitions and expectations as the world of work continues to transform.
It is conducted online among respondents aged 18–67 who are either employed for at least 24 hours per week, sole traders, or unemployed but considering looking for a job in the future. The minimum sample size is 500 interviews per market. Evalueserve is used for sampling purposes.
The survey was conducted between October 7 and November 6, 2024 among over 26,000 workers in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States and Uruguay.
about the randstad enterprise talent trends report
The 2024 Talent Trends research is a survey of 1,076 C-suite and human capital leaders at global and regional organizations across 21 markets worldwide. It is our largest survey in the nine-year history of the Talent Trends Report and is designed to help our clients and the broader business community understand the top HR and talent acquisition trends for 2024. Conducted by a third party on behalf of Randstad Enterprise, survey panels are composed of business leaders who influence both strategic and operational decisions for their organizations. Online surveys were conducted via external panels during Q4 of 2023. Interviews were self-administered and could be taken across devices (including mobile phones, tablets, desktops and laptops).
Markets surveyed: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nordics, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, U.K., U.S.