Tech Hiring Trends: What’s Shaping the Future of IT?
Nowadays, people feel like technological advancements are moving faster than they can follow. Surveys find that 22% of U.S. workers worry their jobs will become obsolete soon. Even the more futureproof, forward-thinking organizations are juggling a myriad of considerations and IT crazes to find the right combination of skillsets and talent. Keeping your finger on the pulse of so many tech hiring trends and staying agile in a changing market can be a challenge—but it doesn’t have to be.
Thankfully, Conexess is here to help. In anticipation of our inaugural salary guide, we’ve identified some nationwide trends in the tech industry that can help you to thread the needle, maximizing what your people and business do with technology.
Let’s dig in!
The Nationwide Trends Moving Tech Forward
AI and Machine Learning Specialists
This is the year generative AI went from pie-in-the-sky idea to tangible business tool. McKinsey & Company found that one-third of their global survey respondents were using generative AI tools in at least one of their business functions. Though the technology is still in its awkward adolescence, we’re already envisioning wider applications for this game-changing technology—and a growing need for trained professionals.
As businesses increasingly integrate AI tools into their operations, there’s a mounting need for experts who can design, implement, and maintain these systems. In fact, Upwork surveys are showing 49% of U.S. business leaders plan to hire full-time AI experts and 49% expect to work with AI consultants.
Machine Learning (ML), a subset of AI, is also seeing vast interest, especially in sectors like finance, healthcare, and retail. The ability of this technology to help organizations simplify real-time decision making, rein in expenses, and minimize manual efforts has made stakeholders eager to hire experienced ML professionals.
Cloud Computing Engineers
The shift to cloud platforms is undeniable. There’s even been a new term coined for the sheer proliferation of cloud solutions: cloud sprawl. Companies are looking for experts skilled in mainstream platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud as well as those specific to their industries or functions.
Hiring these individuals helps businesses migrate to the cloud, ensuring scalability, resilience, and security. However, the prevailing cloud skills gap is holding businesses back from harnessing those benefits. There have been movements to reskill parts of the workforce to be more cloud savvy, but these programs won’t provide the immediate relief businesses need. In your search, well-established relationships might be the only way to find people for your next role or project.
Cybersecurity Analysts
With the rise in cyber threats, cybersecurity has emerged as a top concern for organizations and every business is a potential target. MGM Resorts, T-Mobile, and other corporations stand as proof that these attacks are only growing bolder. Healthcare systems, school districts, and even government agencies are also subject to attack as hackers hope to obtain lucrative data to sell on the dark web.
Professionals who can safeguard digital assets against increasingly sophisticated threats are in high demand. Yet the demand surpasses the available talent. The (ISC)2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study emphasized the need for organizations to bypass the 3.4 million worldwide cybersecurity worker gap if they are going to remain competitive and protect mission-critical data and systems.
Data Scientists and Analysts
Data-driven decision-making is paramount—not to mention the governance of said data to make sure everyone in your organization is on the same page. In fact, data experts are critical to creating the foundation for insightful artificial intelligence, effective cloud platforms, and airtight cybersecurity strategies.
Thus, experts who can gather, analyze, and draw actionable insights from vast amounts of data are essential for businesses aiming to gain a competitive edge. Though we’ve seen growth in the talent pool, a survey from Anaconda shows 62% of respondents are moderately concerned or more about the impact any data talent shortages will have on their business.
More Insights to Come
These trends are just the beginning. As 2023 speeds to a close, hiring managers across the country—especially in our up-and-coming hubs of Nashville and Detroit—are taking stock of their current tech teams. Keep an eye on the Conexess blog and subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter to get more actionable insights like these and to be the first to download our salary guide when it launches.
The future of IT is bright, with myriad opportunities for professionals to carve out specialized niches. Whether you live in an established tech hub or not, the demand for advanced IT skills shows no sign of slowing down. Hiring managers in the IT space would do well to watch these emerging trends in order to secure the right talent and future-proof their organizations in the process.
Discover IT staff augmentation tailored to your organization’s unique needs. Reach out to Conexess today.