As 2018 comes to a close, it’s time to look ahead to 2019. For employers, which includes both hiring managers and IT decision makers, this means placing focus on IT hiring and IT hiring expectations. In this blog post, we’ll be taking a look at the most in-demand IT jobs, the technical skills which are expected to be in high demand, and the trends likely to shape IT hiring in the year ahead.
In-Demand IT Jobs
The more things change, the more they stay the same. While emerging technologies (e.g. blockchain, cryptocurrency, automation, virtual reality, etc.) are expected to see an uptick in hiring, the majority of the jobs that are expected to be in the highest demand are still ones that were high on employer’s wish lists in 2018. Here then, are 10 of the most in-demand IT jobs for 2019:
- Cybersecurity Engineer – Cybersecurity/Security engineers are responsible for testing and screening security software and for monitoring networks and systems for security breaches or intrusions. With news of data breaches becoming a common occurrence, the need for these individuals is not surprising.
- AI/Machine Learning Engineer – These are computer programmers who specialize in developing machines and/or software which exhibit human intelligence.
- Full Stack Developer – These IT pros are individuals who can handle all the work of databases, servers, systems engineering, and clients. They understand both the front-end and back-end of software applications
- Data Scientist – A Data Scientist is an individual that performs statistical analysis, data mining and retrieval processes on a large amount of data to identify trends, figures and other relevant information. A more detailed understanding can be gathered by reading this article on Data Scientists by the Harvard Business Review.
- Python Developer – Python is one of the fastest growing programming languages and is used a lot in AI technologies. Technically speaking, they are web developers responsible for writing server-side web application logic.
- Java Developer – Everything you need to know about Java can be found in our blog. In short, Java Developers create and test computer programs using the Java programming language.
- JavaScript Developer – They may sound similar but there’s no relation to Java here. JavaScript developers are responsible for implementing the front-end logic that defines the behavior of the visual elements of a web application.
- Cloud Engineer – An IT professional responsible for any technological duties associated with cloud computing, including design, planning, management, maintenance and support.
- Scrum Master – Scrum is a methodology that allows a team to self-organize and make changes quickly, in accordance with agile principles. The scrum master manages the process for how information is exchanged.
- DevOps Engineer – DevOps is a software development methodology that combines software development and IT operations with the goal of shortening the SDLC. DevOps engineers work with software developers, system operators and other production staff to oversee code releases.
In-Demand Tech Skills
Different skills will be sought after at different times, but these technical skills and expertise are expected to be in the most demand throughout the year:
| .NET | Golang | R |
| Angular | Hadoop | ReactJS and React Native |
| Apache Spark | Java | Ruby on Rails |
| Artificial Intelligence | JavaScript | SAS |
| Augmented Reality | Machine Learning | Swift |
| Blockchain | Microsoft SQL Server | Virtual Reality |
| C# | PHP | Virtualization |
| Cloud and SaaS | Python |
Expected Hiring Trends
It’s been well-documented that the IT industry is struggling to overcome the technological skills gap – another topic we’ve blogged about in the past. In effect, the most sought after IT talent isn’t experiencing much of a wait time between positions. That’s why employers would be well-advised to adopt some of these hiring trends poised to dominate the IT hiring landscape in 2019. They are:
- Project-Based Roles – Project-based roles reduce overhead, allow for increased flexibility, and create more diverse IT teams. By utilizing project-based consultants (contractors), organizations are able to remain fully staffed, save on overhead costs, and make quicker hiring decisions. Partnering with staffing firms is an excellent strategy for combatting the IT skills gap and remaining competitive in the search for top technical talent.
- Hiring Fast – In such a competitive market, employers can’t afford to delay hiring decisions. Once a resource has been identified, the offer for employment needs to be made quickly. Any delays in that decision, and the hiring process in general, can lead to the candidate considering other opportunities. For more information, consult another of our previous blog posts, “IT Hiring: A Need for Speed.”
- Training/Educating Employees – It can be extremely challenging to backfill a top performer who has been with your company for a number of years. For one, top technical talent is scarce and the competition for them is fierce. Two, the departing employee most likely didn’t join your organization with all of the skills that they’re leaving with. That’s why more and more organizations are turning to training/education programs in order to coach up employees. This allows for organizations to develop the talent they need in-house without having to leave a position open for months on end.
Of course, partnering with a staffing firm, such as PSCI, will help keep your business abreast of everything going on in the world of IT and give you a direct line to top available talent. Connect with us and we’ll ensure that your organization stays ahead of the curve through 2019 and beyond.
Resources
Information for this article was gathered from Robert Half’s 2019 Technology & IT Salary Guide and through the Tech Republic.
