Digital experts are not only among the most in-demand talents in the world, they are some of the most willing to relocate, with two-thirds open to moving to a different country to advance their careers, according to a study by Boston Consulting Group (one of the world’s leading management consultancies) and The Network (a global alliance of more than 50 leading recruitment websites). The US is the top country destination for digital experts worldwide, and London is their preferred city for a work-abroad assignment. The “Decoding Digital Talent” report has being released as part of the ongoing “Decoding Global Talent” series from BCG and The Network. As part of the study, BCG and The Network polled 27,000 people in 180 countries with expert-level knowledge in such skills as programming and web development, mobile application development, artificial intelligence, robotics and engineering. Digital experts have several things in common. Eighty percent have a college degree, and 68% are men. Contrary to popular wisdom, their top preference is working for a large company, not a startup. Just 9% are in upper management, and 41% work in positions with no management responsibilities. Subgroups of digital experts have skills in areas where demand is growing significantly and urgently, specifically in agile ways of working (18%) and AI (14%). On average, 67% of digital experts would relocate for a better career opportunity, but interest varies greatly by country. More than three-quarters of residents in places including India and Brazil would relocate for work, while in countries such as China fewer than one in four would consider such a move. By contrast, only 55% of non-experts would relocate for work. Willingness to move is highest for digital experts in developing economies, who would relocate to gain access to better opportunities to advance their careers. In addition to the US, other top destinations for digital experts include Germany, Canada, Australia, and the UK. Besides, digital experts who can code software or run advanced AI data analytics are a valuable asset. Companies that need digital experts to run or expand a business face stiff competition for talent with those skills. In addition to recruiting, companies can meet their need for digital experts by offering upskilling or reskilling programs to teach current employees needed skills, aligning what they offer with the organization’s broader strategies.
