Generation
A global approach to understanding and tackling recruitment challenges in the tech sector for under-represented groups
The Hg Foundation is the anchor funder of a landmark research project to give global insight into hiring trends to entry level jobs in the technology sector. Developed by our partners at Generation, the study surveyed more than 4,000 employed and unemployed people, and collected 1,325 responses from tech and non-tech employers, spanning eight countries: Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Mexico, the UK and the US.
The research explores critical issues such as demand for entry level talent; how job requirements are evolving; the drivers of successful applications; and how employers screen CVs and aim to increase diversity.
The overall aim of the research is to identify interventions that can be made to support under-represented communities to access and thrive in entry-level tech jobs, and to inform the debate around solutions to increasing the supply and diversity of talent. In the medium term, we hope the most promising interventions and ideas coming out of the research can be tested at scale, to see whether they are successful in harnessing the talent of under-served groups.
Key findings
About a quarter of the employers surveyed (24%) have removed educational or work experience requirements for entry-level tech roles, replacing them with demonstration-based competencies.
According to the research, the result has been a more inclusive recruitment process that attracts more candidates, with comparable candidate quality and performance on the job.
33%
less spent to recruit entry-level talent than those that added requirements
The research concluded that these new skills-based hiring techniques also fostered greater ethnic diversity, though gender bias persisted
58%
of the companies that removed at least one degree or work experience requirement saw an increase in the number of applicants, allowing them to hire more candidates more quickly.
84%
of the companies surveyed indicated that candidates they hired after redefining requirements performed at work just as well, if not better, than those hired under more stringent requirements.
Dawn Marriott - Partner at Hg
Hg Blogs
Insights
Leanne Ryan - Head of Research Execution in Hg’s Portfolio Talent Team
Stuart Pearce - Portfolio CTO at Hg
Martina Sanow, Trustee of The Hg Foundation and Partner at Hg