Network and infrastructure roles are evolving as organizations embrace innovations like AI-driven network operations, multicloud networking, and zero trust network access (ZTNA), along with SD-WAN. This article summarizes some recent findings on industry research, hiring trends, and certification developments that are shaping the landscape for network professionals, infrastructure and operations (I&O) leaders, and data center teams. Stay tuned for ongoing updates.
In October, the tech employment landscape showed minimal movement, suggesting that by the end of the year, the quantity of roles may not meet the needs of the number of unemployed technology workers. According to The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the unemployment rate has mostly remained stable, and further analysis indicates that the unemployment figure for tech professionals has also stayed consistent.
“The job market for IT Professionals has significantly shifted, with an average loss of 4,983 jobs each month over the last year,” commented M. Victor Janulaitis, CEO of Janco Associates. “The latest analyzed BLS data estimates there are approximately 4.18 million job opportunities for IT professionals in the US. Layoffs in major tech firms continue to negatively impact overall IT hiring. Larger tech companies are still making cuts to enhance their financial performance, with recent layoffs announced by Intel, Microsoft, and Google.”
Based on CompTIA’s review of the BLS data, technology roles increased by 70,000 in October, bringing the total to around 6.5 million workers. CompTIA also noted that hiring across software, cybersecurity, support, data, and infrastructure sectors showed a wide-reaching trend. Nevertheless, CompTIA’s report highlighted that tech industry employment actually declined by over 4,000 roles in October.
“Despite the increased noise in the labor market data this month, there are several positive highlights regarding tech employment. The information suggests that employers are maintaining a balanced strategy for hiring in essential tech roles and positions that foster innovation,” remarked Tim Herbert, chief research officer at CompTIA, in a statement.
November 2024
Skillsoft’s latest ranking reveals the highest-paid IT certifications. IT professionals holding certifications in AWS, Google, and Nutanix see their average salaries soar in the U.S.—with some exceeding $200,000. According to Skillsoft’s data, the top five lucrative certifications are:
“The IT job market is marked by a notable imbalance between supply and demand, contributing to increasing salaries. Our findings indicate that tech experts proficient in cloud computing, security, data privacy, and risk management, along with those capable of managing complex, multifaceted IT environments, will find themselves well-positioned for success,” states Greg Fuller, vice president of Codecademy Enterprise. “The demand for cloud computing skills remains robust, and they can be very rewarding for tech professionals.” Read the full story here.
October 2024
The demand for cybersecurity professionals continues to outpace supply, with a significant gap in available talent both in the U.S. and around the world. As threats become more sophisticated, a recent analysis by CyberSeek indicates that an additional 265,000 cybersecurity experts are needed to meet current demands. Furthermore, ISC2 Research highlights that 90% of organizations acknowledge having skill deficiencies within their security teams, particularly in areas such as AI/ML (34%), cloud security (30%), and the implementation of zero trust strategies (27%). Explore the complete report here.
October 2024
A recent survey found that 71% of 327 full-time female IT professionals reported working longer hours in an effort to advance their careers more swiftly. Additionally, 70% noted that their male counterparts tend to achieve promotions and advancements in their careers at a faster rate. A significant 31% of participants expressed the belief that men are promoted more rapidly. Almost two-thirds of respondents indicated that their workplaces are insufficiently focused on promoting gender equality, based on findings from Acronis.
In an effort to promote greater gender diversity, survey participants indicated that they would find value in various forms of training and educational opportunities. This includes master classes, learning courses, and workshops (63%); networking events (58%); and memberships in professional organizations (44%). On the part of employers, respondents expressed that organizations could contribute to greater gender equality in the workplace by providing mentorship opportunities (51%), making a concerted effort to hire more diverse candidates (49%), and ensuring fair pay practices (49%). Read the full story here.
October 2024
The employment landscape for technology occupations saw an increase of 118,000 new positions in September, as per CompTIA’s examination of the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This job growth resulted in the tech unemployment rate dropping to 2.5%, with a total of 8,583 net new jobs for the month.
The CompTIA Tech Jobs Report highlights that job postings for future tech recruitment surged to more than 516,000 active listings, which included 225,000 new postings added in September. The areas that experienced the most significant growth in percentage terms during September were tech support specialists and database administrators. The rise in hiring was primarily fueled by sectors such as cloud infrastructure, data processing and hosting, as well as tech services and custom software development, according to CompTIA’s analysis of BLS data.
“It was never a matter of if, but rather when employers would start hiring again,” Tim Herbert, chief research officer at CompTIA, mentioned in a statement. “A diverse range of companies interpreted recent economic changes as an opportunity to address their technology talent requirements.”
October 2024
CompTIA has revised its Cloud+ professional certification to incorporate DevOps, merging software development skills with network operations experience alongside other expertise like resolving common cloud management challenges.
The revised certification course will encompass cloud architecture, design, and deployment; security measures; provisioning and configuring cloud resources; operational management throughout the cloud environment’s life cycle; automation and virtualization; backup and recovery methods; ensuring high availability; foundational DevOps principles; and cloud management. According to CompTIA, the program will also include knowledge of technologies such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things.
“It is essential for businesses to guarantee that their teams possess the necessary skills to navigate cloud and hybrid settings,” mentioned Teresa Sears, senior vice president of product management at CompTIA, in a statement. “CompTIA Cloud+ empowers team members to handle complex migrations, manage multi-cloud settings, secure information, and troubleshoot issues while ensuring cost-effective operations.”
Professionals in technology who hold CompTIA Cloud+ or CompTIA Network+ certifications have the opportunity to further enhance their skills and validate their expertise with the upcoming CompTIA CloudNetX certification, which is set to launch next year and is included in the CompTIA Xpert Series, as indicated by CompTIA.
October 2024
A new GenAI certification has been introduced by Certiport, a business under Pearson VUE. This week, the provider announced the release of its Generative AI Foundations certification, which aims to equip professionals and students with essential skills for working with genAI technologies. The certification will assess an individual’s knowledge in various domains such as:
The Generative AI Foundations certification is now available via Mindhub and Certiport, along with Pearson VUE’s online testing platform, OnVUE, as well as test centers in the Certiport network.
October 2024
Recent statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicate that although many IT job opportunities are expected to grow through 2033, some roles for network and computer systems administrators might experience a decrease. The demand for computer network architects is anticipated to rise by 13.4%, while job openings for computer network support specialists are expected to increase by 7.3%. Conversely, the roles of network and computer systems administrators are projected to decline by 2.6%.
In total, the sector labeled by the BLS as “computer and mathematical occupations” is expected to grow by 12.9% from 2023 to 2033, resulting in an additional 699,000 jobs. This makes it the second fastest growing occupational category, following healthcare support occupations, which are projected to grow by 15.2%.
Discover the complete narrative here: 10-year forecast shows growth in network architect jobs while sysadmin roles shrink
September 2024
IT employment dipped by 0.05% in August, resulting in a monthly loss of 2,400 positions, as reported by TechServe Alliance’s assessment of the high-tech job market. Year-over-year, the IT sector saw a decline of 0.33%, equating to 17,500 fewer jobs. However, on a brighter note, the report highlighted a more than 1% rise in engineering roles, with an addition of 29,800 jobs when comparing year-over-year statistics.
“As the general job market experienced a downturn in August, IT employment has continued to face challenges in gaining traction,” stated Mark Roberts, CEO of TechServe, in a statement. “Throughout 2024, the growth in IT jobs has remained largely stagnant following 23 months of continuous job losses. I anticipate that IT employment will remain stable until the uncertainties surrounding the economy, the upcoming national election, and ongoing geopolitical issues are clarified.”
September 2024
As research increasingly shows, the importance of employee education and training regarding AI will continue to grow, especially since many employees struggle to integrate this technology into their day-to-day roles.
According to Slingshot’s 2024 Digital Work Trends Report, a staggering 77% of employees feel that they lack comprehensive training or sufficient instruction on the AI tools made available to them by their supervisors. Managers, for the most part, share this sentiment, with only 27% believing that their employees are fully equipped to use the AI tools provided.
The study, carried out in the second quarter of 2024 by Dynata and involving 253 participants, highlighted that insufficient AI skills and low-quality data are considerable hurdles to achieving AI effectiveness. Almost two-thirds (64%) of respondents indicated that their companies lack AI specialists, which hampers the ability to provide AI tools. Furthermore, 45% cited poor data quality within their organizations as a key reason for the unavailability of AI tools in the workplace. Additionally, another factor contributing to the limited presence of AI in some businesses is the absence of necessary technological infrastructure to deploy these tools effectively.
“Data is a critical concern for employees regarding AI: 33% of employers indicate their organization would be prepared to support AI if the company’s data were analyzed for accuracy, while 32% express the need for additional training on data and AI before their organization can be ready,” the report states.
September 2024
This week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its latest employment figures, revealing a continuous decline in the ratio of job openings per unemployed individual, suggesting a rise in unemployment rates is likely.
The BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS) indicates that job openings reached 7.7 million at the end of July, with hires at 5.5 million and separations increasing to 5.4 million. The separations figure, which includes 3.3 million quits, layoffs, and 1.8 million discharges within the same period, suggests troubling signs for unemployment trends in the country, as noted by industry observers.
“The labor market is no longer cooling down to its pre-pandemic levels … it has dropped even further,” stated an Indeed Hiring Lab report on the BLS data. “The labor market has moved past moderation and is heading toward decline.”
For IT workers, the BLS data indicates that while jobs in the tech sector may increase slightly by 5,000 positions in 2024, this growth will not be sufficient to balance the number of unemployed IT professionals, which Janco Associates estimates to be around 145,000.
“Recent analysis of BLS data reveals that there are currently about 4.18 million IT jobs in the United States. Ongoing layoffs at major tech companies have continued to negatively impact overall IT recruitment. Big tech firms are persistently cutting jobs to improve their profit margins. Companies like Intel, Microsoft, and Google have recently announced additional layoffs,” remarked M. Victor Janulaitis, CEO of Janco. “At the same time, BLS data indicates that approximately 81,000 IT professionals found jobs while 147,000 were still searching for work in June. Our analysis forecasts that this trend will likely persist into July and August.”
September 2024
Professionals in technology who aim to validate their data science skills now have the opportunity to showcase their expertise through CompTIA’s DataX certification program.
This initiative is part of CompTIA’s newly introduced Xpert Series and has been developed with insights from data scientists across both private and public sectors. The focus is on essential skills pivotal to the success of a data scientist, including mathematics and statistics, modeling, analysis, operations and processes, machine learning, and specialized applications of data science. Tailored for data professionals with five or more years of experience, the program aims to highlight knowledge gaps while offering educational resources to help candidates become proficient in advanced topics.
“Obtaining a CompTIA DataX certification serves as a trustworthy testament to a professional’s dedication to excellence within the data science domain,” stated Teresa Sears, senior vice president of product management at CompTIA, in an announcement. “This certification program validates the advanced analytics capabilities that enable organizations to improve efficiency, reduce risks, and fully leverage the value of their data assets.”
August 2024
CompTIA has joined forces with Gebeya Inc. to offer access to its extensive library of courses in IT, networking, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. This partnership will provide aspiring technology enthusiasts in Africa with the opportunity to engage in IT training and obtain certifications through CompTIA.
Gebeya, a leading talent cloud technology provider across Africa, states that its mission is “to bridge the digital skills divide and promote digital transformation throughout the continent.” By collaborating with CompTIA, they aim to enhance the skill sets of hopeful technology professionals in Africa. “Our strategic alliance with CompTIA allows us to incorporate a thorough skilling module into the Gebeya Talent Cloud, giving our clients and partners unparalleled access to top-tier IT training and certifications for their talent networks,” expressed Amadou Daffe, the CEO of Gebeya, in a statement.
CompTIA provides vendor-neutral IT certifications encompassing the basics of various IT roles. The organization emphasizes that its course library is designed to help individuals keep pace with the most sought-after technological skills while improving technical proficiency on a global scale.
“We share a common goal of narrowing the digital skills gap in Africa,” remarked Benjamin Ndambuki, CompTIA’s territory development representative for Africa, in a statement. “With Gebeya’s broad outreach and local knowledge combined with CompTIA’s well-regarded certifications, we are optimistic that we can empower a new wave of African tech professionals to excel in the digital economy.”
August 2024
Recent data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has revealed that earlier predictions regarding job growth were inaccurate. The agency announced this week that there were actually 818,000 fewer jobs added in the year ending March 2024 than was previously estimated. This revelation, alongside reports from Indeed indicating a gradual increase in the unemployment rate, is heightening concerns about a potential recession.
As per Indeed’s Hiring Lab, “on a rolling three-month average, the unemployment rate has climbed .55 percentage points since hitting a low of 3.5% in January 2023.” The revised BLS figures indicate weaker hiring patterns and a cooler job market than previously thought. Nonetheless, Indeed points out that there are grounds for “cautious optimism” surrounding the U.S. labor market. Notably, the number of job postings and wage growth could entice more individuals to enter the workforce.
“Besides the notable number of job openings, another element that might be incentivizing workers to rejoin the labor pool in larger numbers is the consistently robust wage growth. Although this growth has eased from recent peaks, it remains in line with the levels seen before the pandemic,” Indeed noted.
August 2024
The semiconductor sector is potentially on the brink of a significant labor crisis as its rapid growth in the United States is outpacing the supply of qualified workers. A recent analysis by McKinsey & Company indicates that investments in the US semiconductor industry could surpass $250 billion by 2032, generating over 160,000 new job opportunities in engineering and technical support. Unfortunately, this situation is exacerbated by a sharp decline in the domestic semiconductor manufacturing workforce, which has decreased by 43% since its peak in 2000. The report suggests that, if trends continue, the industry may face a shortfall of up to 146,000 engineers and technicians by 2029.
August 2024
CompTIA has launched new career resources aimed at educating individuals about various technology-related positions, empowering them to craft career trajectories that best fit their abilities and experiences.
“A lot of individuals are unaware of what working in the technology sector truly entails, which leads to fear, misconceptions about the jobs being tedious, or the belief that they are overly challenging,” noted Todd Thibodeaux, president and CEO of CompTIA, in a statement. “Our goal is to inform individuals of the vibrant job opportunities present in tech, motivate them to realize their potential in these roles, and equip them with the essential knowledge and skills necessary for success.”
Among the newly introduced resources is the CompTIA Career Explorer. The nonprofit organization describes this tool as helpful for professionals in customizing a career trajectory that suits their personal work styles and lifestyles. With this tool, job seekers can experience “a day in the life of specific job roles and test their abilities by engaging in real-time, realistic problem-solving” akin to the jobs.
CompTIA Career+ aims to deliver an engaging, interactive video experience that “highlights a day in the life of sought-after job roles,” according to CompTIA. This resource is set to showcase up to 30 different job roles, encompassing nearly 90% of all technology positions.
The organization unveiled these new resources during its CompTIA ChannelCon and Partner Summit conference. “We aim for individuals to connect CompTIA with the skills and competencies required for careers in technology,” Thibodeaux affirmed.
August 2024
A recent analysis by the Germany-based biotechnology firm Cytena reveals that California offers the highest average salaries in the United States for professionals working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Cytena examined compensation data for over 75 STEM roles showcased on the company review platform Glassdoor to identify which U.S. states provide the best salaries for tech talent. California secured the top position with an average salary of $124,937 across all roles featured in the study, which encompassed a diverse range of positions, from healthcare practitioners to mathematicians, as well as data scientists to software and network engineers. Washington state followed closely in second place, with an average annual salary just under $124,000, while New York claimed the third spot with an average salary of $114,437. The top ten states with the highest compensation for STEM roles were rounded out by Nevada, Maryland, Massachusetts, Idaho, Hawaii, Colorado, and Connecticut.
July 2024
On Friday, July 26, we celebrate the 25th annual System Administrator Appreciation Day. Observed on the last Friday of July each year, SysAdmin Day honors the IT professionals who ensure that organizations and their underlying infrastructure operate seamlessly. Many might regard this as an often-overlooked role, which is precisely why Ted Kekatos initiated this special day, giving recognition to the men and women who install and configure hardware and software, manage networks and technology tools, assist end users, and monitor the overall system performance.
Network and systems administrators handle complaint calls and resolve issues for end users, frequently without receiving the gratitude they deserve. These unsung heroes of the IT world truly merit a day dedicated to them—perhaps even a small gift to acknowledge their countless hours of hard work and the substantial impact they have behind the scenes.
July 2024
NetBrain Technologies has launched its Network Automation Certification Program, designed to acknowledge engineers with advanced skills in network automation. This program will assist network engineers in validating their abilities and clearly communicating their expertise to others, as stated by NetBrain. The initial examinations for this program will take place on October 3, following the NetBrain Live Conference in Boston.
NetBrain currently highlights three certifications focused on network automation available on its website:
July 2024
Skillsoft has announced a partnership with Microsoft to create its AI Skill Accelerator initiative, aimed at helping organizations enhance the skills of their workforce in utilizing Microsoft AI technologies like Copilot and Azure Open AI, along with generative AI technologies in general. This initiative seeks to boost business productivity and innovation by more effectively leveraging genAI applications.
“This partnership with Microsoft marks the beginning of numerous AI learning experiences we plan to offer to assist our customers and their talent—from regular end users to business executives to AI developers—in gaining the necessary skills and tools for thriving in the AI era,” stated Ron Hovsepian, executive chair at Skillsoft, in a statement. Skillsoft’s annual IT Skills and Salary report, which gathered insights from 5,700 tech professionals globally, revealed that 43% of participants believe their teams need to improve their AI skills.
Skillsoft’s AI Skill Accelerator provides a comprehensive learning journey, featuring on-demand courses, personalized coaching, group sessions, live instructor-led training, and practical lab experiences. Skillsoft claims that this program will empower its users to:
“Microsoft and Skillsoft have maintained a strong partnership, united in their aim to facilitate AI transformation throughout every sector of business,” mentioned Jeana Jorgensen, corporate vice president of worldwide learning at Microsoft, in a recent statement. “This educational initiative aims to equip both individuals and organizations to fully leverage the potential of generative AI, Microsoft Copilot, and Microsoft’s suite of AI applications and services.”
July 2024
Recent data from IT employment monitoring sources indicates that the tech sector welcomed over 7,500 new employees in June, despite a rise in the overall unemployment rate among IT professionals.
As reported by CompTIA, the technology sector saw the addition of approximately 7,540 new jobs in June, marking the largest monthly uptick this year. Analyzing data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), CompTIA highlighted that this positive growth was tempered by a decline of 22,000 positions in tech roles across the U.S. economy. “Even with some areas experiencing growth, the latest figures suggest there is some downward pressure on tech employment,” noted Tim Herbert, chief research officer at CompTIA, in a statement. “A variety of factors, including anxiety over AI, likely influences certain employers to adopt a cautious approach to tech hiring.”
In a related note, Janco Associates reported that the unemployment rate for IT professionals rose to 5.9% in June, which exceeds the national unemployment rate of 4.1%. Furthermore, Janco Associates estimated that 7,700 jobs were added to the IT sector in May 2024. “The number of unemployed IT professionals increased from 129,000 to 147,000. A skills mismatch persists as jobs remain unfilled because the available IT talent lacks the necessary training and experience. According to BLS data, about 78,000 IT professionals were employed, while 147,000 are actively seeking work,” Janco Associates stated.
July 2024
CompTIA has revised its Network+ certification to provide a more comprehensive understanding of contemporary network environments, address issues pertaining to physical network installations, and equip professionals with improved skills to secure and bolster networks.
The updated Network+ exam, known as N10-009, now includes software-defined networking (SDN) and SD-WAN. CompTIA states, “the program introduces infrastructure as code (IaC), which is regarded as a revolutionary approach that utilizes code for enhanced provisioning and management of computing infrastructure.”
Additionally, the revised Network+ certification program incorporates zero-trust architecture along with various methods of network security enhancement. For further details, read the complete article: CompTIA updates Network+ certification.
June 2024
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has introduced two new certifications focused on artificial intelligence aimed at IT professionals eager to enhance their expertise and secure jobs related to AI. This added knowledge can assist individuals in obtaining positions that necessitate emerging AI competencies, potentially leading to a 47% increase in salaries within the IT sector, as reported by an AWS study.
AWS Certified AI Practitioner serves as a foundational program that certifies understanding of AI, machine learning (ML), and generative AI principles and applications, as stated by AWS. Participants who have experience utilizing AI/ML technologies on AWS and undertake a 120-minute exam comprising 85 questions will have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge on core concepts and various applications of AI, ML, and genAI. The examination will encompass areas including prompt engineering, responsible AI practices, and security and compliance of AI systems, among others.
AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer—Associate entails a 170-minute assessment featuring 85 questions, aimed at assessing the technical skills necessary to effectively deploy ML workloads and manage them in a production setting. Candidates with a minimum of one year’s experience working with Amazon SageMaker and other ML engineering services on AWS would be ideal for this certification. The exam will address various topics, including data preparation for ML models, feature engineering, model training processes, security measures, and more.
Enrollment for both new AWS certifications will commence on August 13.
June 2024
Cisco has introduced a new AI certification aimed at equipping IT professionals with the skills necessary to design, provision, and optimize networks and systems for demanding AI/ML workloads. Announced during the Cisco Live conference in Las Vegas, the Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE)-AI Infrastructure certification is an expert-level accreditation that is vendor-neutral. This certification enables technology professionals to create network architectures that are tailored for AI workloads. They will be trained to address essential business considerations of AI, including balancing cost and power efficiency, as well as aligning computing power and cloud usage with measured carbon emissions, as stated by Par Merat, vice president of Cisco Learning and Certifications, in a blog post regarding the new certification.
Cisco noted that the CCDE-AI Infrastructure certification covers vital areas such as GPU optimization and the creation of high-performance generative AI network frameworks. Candidates pursuing this certification will gain insights into the sustainability and compliance of networks that facilitate AI operations. Skills acquired from this program are increasingly important across various organizations. In fact, the Cisco AI Readiness Index revealed that 90% of organizations are investing in efforts to close AI skills gaps. For further details, you can read more here: Cisco launches CCDE-AI Infrastructure certification.
June 2024
As companies continue to search for cybersecurity professionals, projections indicate that the current supply of skilled talent will fall short of meeting demand in 2024. This conclusion is supported by recent findings from CyberSeek, a platform that aggregates and analyzes data through collaborations with Lightcast, NICE, and CompTIA.
According to CyberSeek data, the current workforce can only fill 85% of available cybersecurity positions in the U.S. economy, highlighting a need for over 225,000 additional workers to address the ongoing cybersecurity skills gap. The analysis also reveals a 37% decline in job postings across all technology sectors from May 2023 to April 2024.
“While the demand for cybersecurity roles is starting to stabilize to levels seen before the pandemic, the persistent shortage of cyber talent remains,” commented Will Markow, vice president of applied research at Lightcast. “Meanwhile, the rapid evolution of new threats and technologies is reshaping the skills needed in cybersecurity, compelling employers, educators, and individuals to proactively adapt to the continuously shifting cyber environment.”
Roles experiencing the greatest demand include network engineers, systems administrators, cybersecurity engineers, cybersecurity analysts, security engineers, systems engineers, information systems security officers, network administrators, information security analysts, and software engineers, as outlined by the CyberSeek data.
“Establishing a strong cybersecurity framework often necessitates adjustments in talent acquisition strategies and methods,” stated Hannah Johnson, senior vice president of tech talent programs at CompTIA. “This may involve upskilling less experienced cybersecurity staff for higher-level positions or recruiting candidates who exhibit subject matter expertise through professional certifications or other qualifications.”
June 2024
According to the latest job market analysis, the average salary for IT professionals stands at $100,399, with total compensation—including bonuses and benefits—reaching $103,692. The management consulting firm Janco Associates, Inc. has reported a 3.28% increase in IT salaries over the past year, even as the unemployment rate for IT personnel climbs to 5%. Executives in the field are experiencing the highest earnings, with total compensation packages rising by 7.48% and reaching a median of $184,354.
Another noteworthy observation from Janco Associates is the phenomenon of “salary compression.” This occurs when new employees are brought on at the upper end of the pay scale for their positions, resulting in them earning more than their long-term colleagues in similar roles.
Additionally, midsized enterprises are facing higher turnover rates compared to larger companies, while also witnessing a more significant increase in salary levels. According to Janco Associates, wages in midsized firms have surged by 5.46%, contrasting with a modest 2.56% rise in larger enterprises.
May 2024
Recent findings from IDC indicate that a rising shortage of essential IT skills may be adversely affecting the financial performance of businesses.
The IDC publication, Enterprise Resilience: IT Skilling Strategies, 2024, highlights the skills that are currently most sought after by enterprise organizations. Out of 811 surveyed individuals, artificial intelligence emerged as the leading skill, identified by 45% of participants, with IT operations following closely at 44% and cloud solutions-architecture at 36%. Additional in-demand skills include: API integration (33%), generative AI (32%), cloud solutions-data management/storage (32%), data analysis (30%), cybersecurity/data security (28%), IoT software development (28%), and IT service management (27%).
Approximately 63% of IT leaders from North American organizations indicated that the absence of these skills has hindered their digital transformation projects, with delays averaging between three to ten months. Survey participants expressed their concerns regarding the detrimental effects of skill shortages within their IT departments:
Based on the findings of recent surveys, IDC forecasts that by 2026, 90% of companies globally will experience the challenges posed by the IT skills shortage, potentially resulting in a staggering cost of up to $5.5 trillion due to delays, quality concerns, and loss of revenue. “Finding the right people with the appropriate skills for the right positions has become increasingly challenging,” remarks Gina Smith, PhD, research director at IDC’s IT Skills for Digital Business practice, as noted in a statement. “As the shortage of IT skills deepens and the pace of new technologies increases, businesses must adopt innovative strategies to recruit, train, upskill, and reskill their workforce. Cultivating a learning culture is the most effective approach to achieve this goal.”
May 2024
The absence of critical technology skills is a significant concern for IT leaders. They indicate that if the skills gap continues, they may find it challenging to adopt new technologies, manage outdated systems, seize business opportunities, and retain clients.
A recent survey conducted by Pluralsight, an online professional training provider, revealed that 96% of technologists have seen their workloads increase because of the skills gap. Furthermore, 78% reported that they had to abandon projects midway due to a shortage of employees with the requisite IT skills needed to complete them successfully. While a majority of organizations (78%) stated that their skills gap has improved since the previous year, survey participants highlighted that cybersecurity, cloud computing, and software development represent the top three areas where skill shortages persist. IT executives expressed concern that the skills gap within their organizations will hinder their ability to:
Pluralsight conducted a survey involving 1,400 executives and IT professionals from the U.S., U.K., and India to investigate the technical skills gap and the measures organizations are taking to fill the expertise void in certain technology domains.
May 2024
Network automation remains a significant hurdle for IT leaders, primarily due to insufficient skills among their teams.
In a survey conducted by Enterprise Management Associates with 354 IT professionals focused on network automation, only 18% expressed that their network automation initiatives were a complete success, while 54% reported only partial success. Meanwhile, 38% were either uncertain about their success or acknowledged failures within their network automation endeavors.
Over a quarter (26.8%) of those surveyed cited staffing challenges, including gaps in skills and employee turnover, as a significant issue for businesses. “The biggest hurdle for me is the scarcity of network engineers who are able to support automation,” remarked a network engineer working at a midmarket business services firm, as noted in the EMA report. “The community is limited, making it difficult to find individuals who can assist in problem-solving.”
April 2024
CompTIA, the IT certification and training organization, is broadening its product and program offerings to address the increasing demand for skills related to artificial intelligence.
AI is becoming an essential element in current job roles, while new positions are also emerging on employers’ radars. “Two completely new job titles—prompt engineering and AI systems architects—are starting to take shape. These roles align closely with the AI goals of numerous organizations,” explained Teresa Sears, vice president of product management at CompTIA.
According to Thomas Reilly, the chief product officer at CompTIA, millions of IT professionals will need to develop new AI skills to align with the evolving job market, as stated. He mentioned, “Our goal is to offer a variety of certifications and training programs that cater to the entire career journey. This includes foundational knowledge for those just starting out, as well as advanced skill sets for seasoned professionals.”
February 2024
In 2023, the creation of new IT jobs remained stagnant, with only 700 new positions reported, highlighting ongoing economic uncertainties and an increasing need for expertise in emerging technologies. In contrast, 2022 saw a significant addition of 267,000 jobs, a change attributed to tech layoffs and a trend of cost-reduction strategies within companies.
Despite the addition of approximately 21,300 jobs in the last quarter of 2023, according to Janco Associates, the total job growth for the year amounted to merely 700 new roles.
“According to our evaluation, the opportunities for IT professionals in the job market are quite limited. Over the last year, telecommunications experienced a reduction of 26,400 jobs, content providers saw a decrease of 9,300 jobs, and other information services lost 10,300 jobs,” shared M. Victor Janulaitis, CEO at Janco, in a statement. “On the other hand, there were positive developments with computer system designers adding 32,300 positions and hosting providers increasing by 14,000.”
January 2024
Robert Half indicates that the job market is expected to stay strong as we move into 2024. Based on the talent solutions provider’s latest survey, over half of U.S. firms intend to expand their hiring in the early months of 2024. Although this data is broader than just the IT field, it reveals that 57% of companies plan to create new permanent jobs in the first half of the year, while 39% expect to fill existing vacancies and 67% plan to employ contract workers as part of their staffing strategy.
Focusing specifically on the tech industry, 69% of more than 1,850 hiring managers surveyed confirmed they would be creating new permanent positions in that sector. However, challenges are likely to continue into the new year; Robert Half noted that 90% of hiring managers are finding it challenging to locate skilled candidates, and 58% reported that the time required to fill open positions has increased compared to last year.
December 2023
Possessing cloud expertise and security knowledge is essential for constructing contemporary networks, and these competencies are highly lucrative, as highlighted by Skillsoft’s yearly assessment of the most valuable IT certifications. Topping the list of the 20 highest-paying IT certifications is the Google Cloud-Professional Cloud Architect, boasting an impressive average annual salary of $200,960.
Along with various cloud credentials, there are five security, networking, and system architecture certifications featured in Skillsoft’s top 20 rankings:
November 2023
