Linkedin Data Shows Flexibility Tops Salary for Software Engineers, While Industry Still Experiencing a Significant Shortage of Women

New data published by LinkedIn to coincide with Engineers Week provides insights into the Irish software sector derived from software engineers in Ireland who are active on LinkedIn. It reveals what Irish software professionals value most when evaluating new job opportunities.

Almost seven in ten (69%) software engineers in Ireland ranked flexible work arrangements as the biggest motivating factor when switching jobs, higher than salary and benefits (61%). The third most important factor signalled by the research participants is a healthy work-life balance, flagged by 61% of respondents.

Demand for software engineers in Ireland outstrips supply, with a steady flow of talent coming into the country. LinkedIn’s data shows that the top five sources of talent for the Irish software sector are India, the UK, Brazil, Turkey, and the Netherlands, respectively.

Given the level of demand for software engineers in the country, one issue that should be addressed in order to create a larger pool of talent is tackling the gender divide. In Ireland, a staggering 83% of software professionals are male, with just 17% female. Digging deeper into the data, it appears that there is a glass ceiling in the sector, with women holding proportionally more junior roles.

LinkedIn’s analysis shows that women’s share of non-leadership roles is distinctly higher than their overall representation in the sector, suggesting that the balance could shift further in years to come – Junior Software Engineer (22%), Associate Software Engineer (28%) and Software Engineer Intern (30%).

LinkedIn’s data also revealed the top employers in the Irish software sector, with Workday, Amazon Web Services, Ericsson and Mastercard ranking among the top five employers of software engineers. Over the past year, the highest levels of recruitment were recorded by Workday, Mastercard and Fidelity Investments.

Ireland’s third-level institutions play a significant role in providing talent to the industry. The largest provider of talent is Technological University Dublin, followed by UCD, Trinity College, Dublin City University and the University of Galway, respectively.

Commenting on the analysis, Deirdre Hogan, Senior Engineering Manager at LinkedIn, said: “Demand for software engineers in Ireland continues to soar. In order to bolster supply, we need to address the gender imbalance in the industry, with women only accounting for 17% of professionals in the sector. If the industry can shift the dial in this regard, then a sustainable flow of talent can be established to meet the needs of employers.”

“One factor which may help to address the gender divide for software engineers is hybrid working. Anecdotally our research would seem to indicate that it is a jobseeker’s market for software professionals in Ireland, as flexible working is the main driver for software engineers when switching roles – in contrast to most sectors where salary remains the primary motivator. Offering flexibility can boost a company’s ability to attract talent, with a work culture that accommodates people’s individual needs, broadening an employer’s potential pool of candidates in the process.”