10 Hottest IT Skills for 2015
The pace of job growth in IT may be slowing down, but it’s still moving at a strong clip. A healthy 24% of the respondents to Computerworld’s 2015 Forecast survey said that their companies plan to add more IT employees in the year ahead. While down from 32% and 33% in the previous two years, the fact that a number of employers still anticipate growth indicates that the prospects for expansion in the IT ranks are good.
Moreover, the kinds of technical skills in high demand are those needed for enterprises in expansion mode, suggesting that organizations are continuing to invest in their IT infrastructures.
Here’s a look at the 10 IT skills that the 194 IT executives who responded to our survey said will be most in demand heading into 2015.
1. Programming/application development • 48% of respondents said they plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months.
• Last year’s ranking:
No. 1 As was the case last year and the year before that, IT departments are more likely to have job openings for programmers and developers than for any other position.
2. Project management
• 35% of respondents said they plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months.
• Last year’s ranking: No. 5
Demand for project managers jumped four spots up the list this year, and that doesn’t surprise Leon Kappelman, lead researcher for the Society for Information Management’s (SIM) IT Trends Study.
3. Help desk/technical support
• 30% of respondents said they plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months.
• Last year’s ranking: No. 2
IT leaders say they still have a growing need for help desk and technical support staffers because ongoing projects expand the list of devices and applications that their departments must support.
4. Security/compliance governance • 28% of respondents said they plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months. • Last year’s ranking: No. 7 Executives and board members are willing to spend more money on security because security breaches are making headlines these days.
5. Web development
• 28% of respondents said they plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months.
• Last year’s ranking: Not ranked
6. Database administration
• 26% of respondents said they plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months.
• Last year’s ranking: No. 6
Database administration is a tried-and-true IT role — one that’s always needed in any organization. But the buzz around big data is what’s driving much of today’s demand for people with this skill.
7. Business intelligence/analytics
• 24% of respondents said they plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months.
• Last year’s ranking:
No. 8 Given the enterprise interest in big data these days, it’s no surprise to see IT executives list BI and analytics among their most sought-after skills.
8. Mobile applications and device management
• 24% of respondents said they plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months.
• Last year’s ranking: No. 4
Like many other IT executives, Paul R. Quinn, strategic execution officer and CIO at Duke Realty in Indianapolis, is trying to keep up with demand for mobile apps from employees who bring their own devices to work.
9. Networking
• 22% of respondents said they plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months.
• Last year’s ranking: No. 3
According to the recent Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trend Report, 57% of U.S. technology executives said network administration tops the list of skills needed in their organizations
10. Big data • 20% of respondents said they plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months.
• Last year’s ranking: No. 11
In its September 2014 report titled “Fastest-Growing Tech Skills,” Dice reported that the number of postings related to big data on its IT jobs site grew 56% year over year.
Moreover, the kinds of technical skills in high demand are those needed for enterprises in expansion mode, suggesting that organizations are continuing to invest in their IT infrastructures.
Here’s a look at the 10 IT skills that the 194 IT executives who responded to our survey said will be most in demand heading into 2015.
1. Programming/application development • 48% of respondents said they plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months.
• Last year’s ranking:
No. 1 As was the case last year and the year before that, IT departments are more likely to have job openings for programmers and developers than for any other position.
2. Project management
• 35% of respondents said they plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months.
• Last year’s ranking: No. 5
Demand for project managers jumped four spots up the list this year, and that doesn’t surprise Leon Kappelman, lead researcher for the Society for Information Management’s (SIM) IT Trends Study.
3. Help desk/technical support
• 30% of respondents said they plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months.
• Last year’s ranking: No. 2
IT leaders say they still have a growing need for help desk and technical support staffers because ongoing projects expand the list of devices and applications that their departments must support.
4. Security/compliance governance • 28% of respondents said they plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months. • Last year’s ranking: No. 7 Executives and board members are willing to spend more money on security because security breaches are making headlines these days.
5. Web development
• 28% of respondents said they plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months.
• Last year’s ranking: Not ranked
6. Database administration
• 26% of respondents said they plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months.
• Last year’s ranking: No. 6
Database administration is a tried-and-true IT role — one that’s always needed in any organization. But the buzz around big data is what’s driving much of today’s demand for people with this skill.
7. Business intelligence/analytics
• 24% of respondents said they plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months.
• Last year’s ranking:
No. 8 Given the enterprise interest in big data these days, it’s no surprise to see IT executives list BI and analytics among their most sought-after skills.
8. Mobile applications and device management
• 24% of respondents said they plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months.
• Last year’s ranking: No. 4
Like many other IT executives, Paul R. Quinn, strategic execution officer and CIO at Duke Realty in Indianapolis, is trying to keep up with demand for mobile apps from employees who bring their own devices to work.
9. Networking
• 22% of respondents said they plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months.
• Last year’s ranking: No. 3
According to the recent Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trend Report, 57% of U.S. technology executives said network administration tops the list of skills needed in their organizations
10. Big data • 20% of respondents said they plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months.
• Last year’s ranking: No. 11
In its September 2014 report titled “Fastest-Growing Tech Skills,” Dice reported that the number of postings related to big data on its IT jobs site grew 56% year over year.
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