.Tech, a Radix nTLD, conducted a survey to find out how Covid-19 has affected the technology workforce in the U.S. The findings of the study were released in  the .Tech Workforce Reboot Report which examined how the crisis has affected tech talent and how this cohort is reimagining the way  they’ll work and live in the future.  The report, made up of a study commissioned in August 2020 to over 500 U.S.-based technology workers in IT, Software Development, Internet, and Hardware, found that Covid-19 is placing pressures on tech talent to move to more affordable areas. In fact, 81% of tech workers living near U.S.’ top tech hubs say they are considering or already have plans to move to a more affordable area. The report also found that an overwhelming majority of tech talent says they have been more likely to consider freelance roles and side gigs since the onset of Covid-19. Speaking about the findings, Suman Das, Brand Director, .Tech Domains, said, “As Covid-19 accelerates remote work environments for the tech workforce, many are using the flexibility to pursue more affordable lifestyles. Part and parcel of that is the increase we see in the broad desire to take on freelance work. While this allows tech talent to work in ways that meet their specific needs and preferences, it’s also creating new challenges for employers when it comes to managing a distributed workforce.”  While the report shows the impact taking place across the entire technology workforce, findings suggest that millennial tech workers have taken a more significant blow than other generations, with the cohort being significantly more likely than older tech workers to say that they have considered moving to a more affordable area. Additionally, an overwhelming 84% of millennial tech workers with a full-time job say that they are more likely to consider taking on freelance work since the onset of Covid-19. Key findings from the report, include: 
  • 81% of tech talent living near U.S.’s top tech hubs looking to relocate.
  • 61% of tech workers saying they are already fully remote.
  • 74% of tech workers with a full-time job say that they are more likely to consider taking on freelance work since the onset of Covid-19.
  • 84% of millennial tech workers with a full-time job say that they are more likely to consider taking on freelance work.
  • 20% of all respondents say that once there is a vaccine for Covid-19 their ideal future work scenario is being in the office 100% of the time.