Industry Guide

Digital & Tech Careers for Young People

Digital and tech careers are perfect for curious, adaptable problem-solvers who love working with technology and new ideas. Whether you’re interested in coding, design, IT support, or digital innovation, this sector values creativity, teamwork, and a drive to keep learning.

Open Budi

Digital & tech: explore where it could take you

What the industry covers

What kind of people thrive here?

This kind of work is usually creative and open to new ideas, fast-paced, collaborative and always changing, so learning is part of the work. It can suit you if you like work that has a clear purpose, gives you room to grow, and connects your strengths to real tasks.

Technical Skills

You enjoy learning how tools, systems or equipment work.

Digital Skills

You are comfortable learning and using digital tools.

Adaptability

You can adjust when priorities, tools or situations change.

Problem Solving

You stay curious and work through challenges step by step.

Key industry insights

Look beyond the obvious employers

Local organisations, SMEs, charities, public bodies and specialist employers can offer valuable first steps, practical experience and clearer routes to responsibility.

Pay varies by role

Experience, responsibility, qualifications, employer and location all affect salary. Treat published figures as a guide rather than a guarantee.

How to start your digital & tech career

1.Explore your strengths.

Think about whether you prefer creating, making, fixing, analysing, organising, supporting people or working with technology.

2.Research realistic pathways.

Look at apprenticeships, college courses, traineeships, volunteering, entry-level vacancies and local employers.

3.Build evidence.

Use school, college, work, volunteering or personal projects to show what you can already do.

4.Learn the language of the sector.

Read job descriptions, follow current developments and notice the skills employers mention repeatedly.

5.Apply before you feel perfect.

Employers do not expect beginners to know everything — they look for potential, reliability and willingness to learn.

Roles and career pathways

Where people often start

Opportunities include IT support, software, testing, UX, product, data, cyber-adjacent roles, no-code tools and digital operations. Bootcamps, apprenticeships and small portfolio projects can help you prove your skills.

Where it can lead

Digital and tech covers software, websites, apps, data, AI, IT services, platforms and tech-enabled businesses. You do not have to be a coder to belong here — routes include support, testing, product, design, data, operations and apprenticeships. With experience, you may move into specialist, supervisory, management, consultancy or leadership work depending on the pathway you choose.

What employers value

Helpful skills include digital literacy, spotting patterns and solving problems, communication, teamwork, basic coding or no-code tools, troubleshooting, data handling, user empathy and documentation. You do not need to be perfect at all of them straight away — these are strengths you can build through projects, volunteering, part-time work, courses, apprenticeships or simply practising.

Skills employers value

Technical Skills
Digital Skills
Adaptability
Problem Solving

Trends and useful preparation

Why this section matters

This field is changing. Showing that you understand what is happening — and that you are already taking small steps to prepare — can help you stand out.

Trends to watch

Market picture: Vacancies appear to be lower year on year (around -8.7%). That is roughly 3k fewer vacancies than the comparison period. The latest vacancy estimate is still about 35k. A dip does not mean there are no jobs — it usually means being more targeted about applications, training and local opportunities.
Opportunity areas: Opportunities include IT support, software, testing, UX, product, data, cyber-adjacent roles, no-code tools and digital operations. Bootcamps, apprenticeships and small portfolio projects can help you prove your skills.
Things to be aware of: Things to be aware of: junior roles can be competitive, tools change quickly, and deadlines can be pressured. You do not need to know everything, but you do need to keep learning.

Useful preparation

Bring proof of interest: a small project, website, spreadsheet, no-code build, GitHub, design, troubleshooting example or online course.
Explain problems you solved in plain English.
Show that you can learn, document what you do and work with others — tech is not just coding.
If you are new, be honest and show what you are doing to build confidence.

Your next step

You do not need to be a finished expert to belong in digital & tech. Start with curiosity, build evidence through small experiences and explore the pathway that fits how you work best.