Over the past year, we've been running a series of LinkedIn polls, tapping into the views of our growing network of professionals across the technical sectors we serve. These quick polls have given us a unique snapshot of what truly matters to today’s workforce, what drives them, what they value, and what they want from their employers.

Here’s a round-up of some of the key trends we uncovered.

Learning, Development and Career Progression

On-the-job learning reigns supreme, with 54% of respondents preferring this method over classroom or online learning. And while 73% value professional qualifications beyond the minimum required, many report limited encouragement from their employers, only 46% said their employer actively pays for them to pursue further qualifications.

When it comes to impactful training, stress management (45%) beat leadership or communication skills. Yet despite a clear appetite for structured development, 27% of respondents said no formal training is offered at all.

Looking at professional growth, networking and experience were rated above formal training or branding. In fact, on-the-job mentoring and company-sponsored courses had the biggest impact on career development. It’s clear: hands-on experience and connections are key.

Culture, Values and Kindness in the Workplace

Culture clearly matters. The majority of respondents said they feel a sense of belonging (44%) and take pride in speaking about their organisation (70% said always or most of the time). However, only 43% felt their company’s vision was clearly communicated.

When asked to describe their team culture, kindness, trust, and respect came up as the most valued qualities. It’s heartening to see that workplace kindness is defined by respondents as politeness, consideration, and recognising team efforts.

Engagement, Communication and Motivation

Recognition continues to drive performance. Over half of our respondents said financial reward is their top motivator to go above and beyond at work, while others highlighted promotion and public recognition.

When it comes to feeling engaged, recognition for achievements and opportunities for new projects scored highest. In contrast, team-building activities had minimal impact.

Interestingly, 100% of respondents said their company communicates important information via email only - an insight worth reflecting on in an era of dynamic, real-time communication tools.

Wellbeing, Flexibility and Work-Life Balance

The call for flexible working hours is loud and clear, 54% of respondents selected this as the most impactful change to support wellbeing. Similarly, 60% suggested choice of financial benefits as the best way to support employees’ financial wellbeing.

A strong 73% of respondents believe employees should have the right to switch off from work outside of office hours, reflecting a growing focus on maintaining healthy boundaries.

Recruitment and Retention: What Works and What Doesn’t

Pay and progression continue to dominate job change decisions. 41% said they’d leave for a pay rise, and 33% for better progression. When it comes to hiring, employee referrals are a valuable strategy, and prompt feedback is the most important part of the hiring process for candidates.

Interestingly, when faced with hiring decisions, 48% said both technical and people skills are equally vital, emphasising the need for balanced candidates.

However, some employers are still falling short. Nearly half of respondents (48%) felt their company’s diversity and inclusion efforts need significant improvement.

Sector-Specific Insights: Highways Focus

With a growing focus on infrastructure, our polls also asked technical professionals in the highways sector about their views.

• 70% were concerned about funding changes due to the upcoming election.

• A combined 64% anticipated an increase in workforce demand in the second half of the year.

• Despite this, 34% anticipate uncertainty around new tax year spending, showing a cautious outlook.

• When it comes to work preferences, the workforce is fairly split: 48% prefer permanent roles, while 40% value the flexibility of contracting.

And when recruiting in this sector, employee referrals and re-engaging former colleagues top the list—highlighting the value of established relationships.

Events and Socials: A Balancing Act

While 59% of respondents said their company holds a free Christmas party, 62% reported no inclusive family events, and 39% felt recognition during festive events isn’t necessary.

That said, socialising with colleagues was overwhelmingly seen as the best part of the annual party, suggesting that while formal recognition is optional, informal team bonding remains essential.

The feedback we receive from our network through these polls gives us real-time insight into what matters to professionals across the technical sectors. From career development and workplace wellbeing to leadership and hiring practices, the message is clear: people want purpose, flexibility, growth, and genuine human connection at work. It's worth noting, however, that while the size of our poll sample does fluctuate in size, we did disregard poll results where the sample size was too small to be truly representative of the wider talent pool.

We'll continue running our LinkedIn polls, and we encourage you to keep sharing your views. Whether you’re a hiring manager or a job seeker, these insights can shape more thoughtful, inclusive, and impactful workplaces.

Follow us on LinkedIn to join the conversation and have your say in our next poll.