Arts graduates ditch dream jobs for the tech industry, in search for higher salaries

Dream jobs are becoming a thing of the past, as students studying the arts follow the money into the ever-growing tech industry, a report from The Sunday Times reveals.  

Jobs within the arts industry often demand intense hours, with little or no work-life balance, and a salary which is enough to survive from.  

The Sunday Times report mentioned an individual working at a London auction house, with exotic artwork and a diverse clientele, who now felt “the longer I’m in the industry, it’s more of a concern”. 

The enticing field, a ‘dream’ for many, is bittersweet in practice and the individual exposed the desire of a 9-5 that would at least allow them more time at home.  

The more prestigious fields of the arts are losing their glamour to many young individuals due to the reputation of being ‘poorly paid’

The more prestigious fields of the arts are losing their glamour to many young individuals due to the reputation of being ‘poorly paid’.  

The longing has shifted from the idyllic to the stable, balanced, and reasonable outlines of other industries.  

Many turn to the tech industry for these factors and find them in abundance. A sizeable amount of tech companies or start-ups often offer tech training alongside the role, or ‘coding bootcamps’ with ‘intensive training’ that do not require prior skills.  

Rising trends of self-care among Millennials and Generation Z are changing trends around working, which means sacrificing childhood ambitions.  

The Sun reported that these groups will spend £24 a week on “self-care” items, like flowers or sweet treats, opposed to the Boomer’s £10 and the Silent Generation’s £8. Prioritising self-care means those jobs in the arts world are no longer viable.  

Molly Johnson-Jones, recruitment firm founder, told The Times: “Back when our parents’ parents’ generation created the idea of these prestigious roles, you would go in at quite a low-paid salary, work your way up, and eventually you get a wonderful salary […] that just doesn’t exist in this economy.” 

Developments and changes in the economy are affecting this reality, as the rising cost of living and housing against a lack of compensation through wages removes the option for many young people.  

Often the arts community can “get away with” these pitfalls due to the high demand of hopeful applicants to these coveted roles. One individual recalled this to The Times, where a pay rise was refused as “so many people want to get into the sector”. 

Now, prestige is no longer enough for those seeking stability, nor is a lifelong commitment to the craft. With the arts and humanities already struggling academically and socially, the continued economic hits are serving the rest of a harsh reality onto younger generations.