More than a third of Romanian IT companies continue recruiting plans

Over a third of IT companies in Romania (36%) continued the recruiting plans they used to have before the pandemic, while 60% of these organizations had a business figure 50% higher in 2020, compared to the previous year, according to a study made in semester 2, 2021.   According to the Focal Hive study “Romanian Software Industry Survey 2021”, technologies with the highest adoption degree in the next two years in Romania are Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (74%), while cloud computing continues to be in the preference top for storage and developing new solutions (79%). Specialties most sought by Romanian companies will remain the ones involving general software development (22%), followed by Business Intelligence & Analysis (13%), UX Development (12%) and Cyber security (11%).   As for the evolution of the business figure of Romanian companies in the software industry, it was rising in 2020, against the previous year, with percentages between 11% and 50% for 60% of respondents. In comparison, 26% of IT entrepreneurs participating in the study recorded a low business figure, according to the type of activity carries out by the company.   According to the source, the socio-economic crisis generated by Covid 19 virus has a moderate positive impact for 25% of Romanian IT companies. Thus, half of people interviewed noticed a profit increase while for the rest profit maintained the same or went down.   Challenges concerning the team or relations with clients were the most difficult to manage in 2020-2021, being closely followed by financial challenges and uncertain projects, according to data centralized in the specialized study. In that context, 36% of IT companies continued their recruiting plans they used to have before the pandemic, while 28% stopped recruiting.   On this background, the marketing component suffered essential changes in the iT sector, in 2020, and compared to the previous period half of respondent companies completely gave up the marketing budget, at least in the first part of the pandemic crisis and only 6% increased those funds and reoriented to digital channels.   In the innovation segment about two thirds of managers in the software industry (64%) confirmed that for 2022-2023 it will represent a decisive factor for success. At the opposite pole, the study shows a reduced preoccupation for the increase of diversity and the reduction of social inequalities in companies.   As for the involvement in educational programs meant to support the development of new specialists,43% of leaders interviewed have planned to set up programs addressed to students, educational webcasts and podcasts, 11% being already involved in mentoring activities. At the same time, 17% of managers said they were not interested in such programs and do not include them in their plans.   The Focal Hive study “Romanian Software Industry Survey 2021” was made over July 11 – October 12, 2021, on a sample of 53 representative companies at national level.   Focal Hive is a marketing agency offering strategy and impact programs for organizations activating in B2B.