If you’re in the market for more money, read on (Picture: Getty Images)

Britons were broke in 2023 thanks to the cost of living crisis, and the latest news from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) makes for sobering reading.

With four in 10 bill payers struggling to afford their energy bills last year, prices for consumer goods and services rose by 9.6% in the year to October 2022, which, the ONS says, is the fastest rate in four decades.

With the stats also revealing 48% are using less gas or electricity because of this rising cost of living, if you feel like you have less money in your pocket these days, you likely do.

That’s partly due to the rise in the cost of groceries, with the cost of a white sliced loaf of bread rising by 4%, breakfast cereal by 10% and a block of cheddar by 6%, according to this government shopping prices comparison tool.

And while wages grew by 7.3% in October 2023, when adjusted for inflation the real gain is just 1.4%, and so, with higher food, energy and entertainment costs, Brits are feeling the pinch more than ever.

So what is the solution? For an increasing number of people, the antidote to an empty pocket is a side hustle – aka an additional job workers take on to earn more cash. A study from Henley Business School found that 25% of UK adults have a side job. From evening bar work or creating a business from a hobby, those aged 25 to 34 are most likely to be engaged in extra work.

But if that all sounds like a lot of extra hassle, then you could consider asking your current employer for a pay rise. According to jobs site Indeed, ‘promotional increases within the same company typically amount to around 3%’.

Get ready for this to be you (Picture: Getty Images)

That’s something, sure, but you are *actually* better off looking for a new job elsewhere.

‘A person that switches jobs can expect a pay raise of about 10% to 20%,’ according to Indeed.

Tech industry is tops when it comes to salary

So it seems like a no-brainer to look for a new job, right? Well, yes, and no. If a new job is on the horizon for you in 2024, you should weigh up the time and effort it takes to bag that new role, against the potential gains you’ll receive.

That’s why it makes the most sense to look at the tech industry, because according to a study from CompTIA, the median wage for technology workers in England is £42,758 – or a whopping 55% higher than the national median wage.

Happily, the UK tech industry isn’t reserved solely for those with capabilities like software development. In fact, much like any sector, there are jobs for those with a wide variety of skills from design to administration, marketing and communications, sales and beyond.

And with higher salaries and exciting working environments, this sector could contain the job of your dreams.

Find out more about the wide variety of roles on offer on the Metro Job Board, or discover three great jobs below.

Senior UI Designer, Tech Innovation, News UK, London

If you have a passion for design, UX and technology, this Senior UI Designer, Tech Innovation role at News UK will allow you to be hands-on and willing to work in a fast-paced, ever-moving environment, thinking big, pushing boundaries and embracing failure.

You will report to the Head of UXD and work in a lean cross-functional team playing a pivotal role in shaping new technologies within News UK and will understand the problem, conceptualise the solution and follow the design thinking process to ensure the user is at the forefront of your mind.

If this sounds like the job for you, apply here.

UK Credit Compliance Manager, PayPal, London

PayPal is seeking a dynamic, innovative, and driven Credit Compliance Manager. You will contribute to the sustainable growth of PayPal’s credit business in the UK, which offers both regulated and unregulated credit products to its consumers and merchants in those markets.

You’ll focus on ensuring regulatory compliance along with the development and implementation of the credit risk and compliance strategies and relevant policies, as well as provide functional leadership as a subject matter expert.

See all the role’s responsibilities.

Technical Account Manager, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Salesforce, London

As a Technical Account Manager (TAM) in Salesforce’s Marketing Cloud Team,you will have the responsibility for partnering with a small number of assigned accounts to improve their overall technical and operational health.

You will help customers navigate through proactive and reactive support services to drive technical customer success, and you should have a track record in translating sophisticated technical issues, driving service maturity through positive partnerships.

Find all the details here.

Start your tech job hunt today on the Metro Job Board

Might as well go where the money is.