Ahmed Sherif
Research expert covering IT services and gaming hardware
IT skills - statistics & facts
The talk about seismic shifts in the IT skills landscape will not go away anytime soon. This is a manifestation of the dynamic demands of a technology-driven global economy that is experiencing disruptions from emerging technologies. In today's interconnected world, tech skills serve as a vital foundation for virtually all leading industries. The rapid development of automation technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) the IT skills landscape in a state of constant flux, creating an urgent demand for AI adoption among industries worldwide. Therefore, continuous learning and high adaptability are close to becoming essential traits for staying relevant and up to date in the job market.
Among developers globally, writing code, searching for answers, and debugging code were the most popular uses of AI in the development workflow in 2024. These applications demonstrate how AI is being integrated into everyday tasks, streamlining processes and allowing developers to focus on more complex challenges. However, despite the enthusiasm surrounding AI's potential, developers have reported several challenges to working with AI. Notably, over two-thirds of developers expressed a lack of trust in AI's output or answers, highlighting a significant barrier to its widespread adoption.
The rapid evolution of IT skills, driven by AI in recent years, has created both opportunities and challenges in the tech industry. As the demand for advanced skills like AI and data analytics continues to grow, companies face persistent difficulties in recruiting qualified candidates.
Which tech skills are in most demand?
The IT skill market has never been more dynamic. Web development, machine learning/deep learning and game development were the most important tech skills that developers wanted to acquire in 2024. Notably, C/C++ and data science have emerged as the fastest-growing IT skills globally in the same year, reflecting the industry's shift towards advanced technologies and data-driven decision-making. Additionally, Python ranks among the top three most sought-after programming languages by recruiters, with JavaScript closely following. This trend underscores the increasing demand for versatile programming capabilities in various sectors.AI upending the tech skills landscape
The recent advent of AI has sparked significant interest among organizations and professionals worldwide as they strive to enhance results and improve workflows. Skills in AI and machine learning, data analytics, and cybersecurity are expected to surge in demand due to the rise of generative AI. This growing emphasis on advanced technologies reflects a broader trend within the industry, where businesses are increasingly looking to leverage AI capabilities to drive innovation and efficiency.Among developers globally, writing code, searching for answers, and debugging code were the most popular uses of AI in the development workflow in 2024. These applications demonstrate how AI is being integrated into everyday tasks, streamlining processes and allowing developers to focus on more complex challenges. However, despite the enthusiasm surrounding AI's potential, developers have reported several challenges to working with AI. Notably, over two-thirds of developers expressed a lack of trust in AI's output or answers, highlighting a significant barrier to its widespread adoption.
Challenges persist in tech recruiting and hiring
It is hardly surprising that the IT skills gap is threatening to put companies out of business by affecting their ability to remain secure. In 2024, back-end developers, AI/machine learning specialists, and full-stack engineers were the most difficult tech positions to fill worldwide, according to tech recruiters globally. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that finding qualified candidates remained the leading challenges to technical recruitment globally according to over a third of respondents in 2024. Consequently, AI has also made its way into tech recruitment. In 2024, over a third of tech recruiters worldwide reported that their companies intend on investing in AI tools to improve hiring processes and candidate experience.The rapid evolution of IT skills, driven by AI in recent years, has created both opportunities and challenges in the tech industry. As the demand for advanced skills like AI and data analytics continues to grow, companies face persistent difficulties in recruiting qualified candidates.
