The UK tech industry is growing at a rapid pace, with workforce rates expected to double those of other industries by 2030. Each year, IT becomes a more exciting sector to work in, with new technologies and trends emerging all the time. The demand for tech professionals isn’t likely to slow down either; as with the market being so vast, there are many specialist areas where very particular skillsets are needed. With women making up around 26.7% of technology professionals, there has never been a better time to join the growing sector. In our recent Women in Tech Survey, 47% of respondents said that their organisation is actively looking to hire more women into their tech teams. In this article, we’ll look at five different IT career paths which are likely to be prioritised by hiring managers in 2024.
Programming
At the top of our list is programming, and this continues to be in demand for almost every tech employer. Coding is at the centre of technology, and pretty much every employer will have a need for this skillset. A person who is proficient in programming languages such as Python, C+, Ruby or JavaScript is invaluable to an organisation as their knowledge and expertise can help to build their products and services.Further to this demand, globally we are experiencing a developer talent shortage; which is expected to reach 85.2 million by 2030. Currently, the supply of programmers cannot keep up with the growth, meaning many companies are paying above average salaries to land highly skilled techies. Women are estimated to make up around 25% of coding jobs, a disproportionate number when you consider that the first ever programmer was a woman. The opportunities for women in programming are vast, with salaries in senior positions reaching around £70,000 a year in the UK.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence is changing the way we live and work, and the growth in the sector is not set to slow down any time soon. Many people are worried about the power of machine learning to threaten job security, and although some jobs can be performed relatively easily by AI, it’s also true to say that we need highly skilled software engineers and techies to progress the technology even further. AI will continue to drive innovation across many different sectors into 2024 and beyond, so the demand for AI professionals will only grow. We are seeing an increase in recruiters including AI skills as desirable for candidates in many different professions, not just IT roles. For example, Marketing is an area where AI can speed up many aspects of the job, and so being familiar with tools such as ChatGPT can help to bring efficiency to many teams and allow more time to be focused on strategic work.
Data Analysis
Technology companies rely heavily on data to drive strategic decisions and improve their products/services. Intelligent and skilled analysts are required by organisations to help guide these choices and to organise the data in a way that it’s clear for other teams to decipher. A good data analyst will need to be creative with the data and be able to present their findings in a clear manner. It’s also key to have a strong understanding of the business, its goals and also the market in which it operates so they can make recommendations based on the data they work with. Data skills were included in LinkedIn’s 2023 list of ‘Jobs on the Rise’ and we expect to see this demand continue as more companies invest in data tools to propel their business’ results.
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing involves the storage of data and other IT services on the cloud and paying for the services as you use them. Many companies are opting to use cloud services rather than having physical servers as it is considered more cost-effective and secure. Cloud systems allow companies to have flexible and scalable operations and also gives the opportunity to use new technology much quicker than they would with physical servers. It’s estimated that around 14% of cloud computing professionals are women, leaving a big gender gap in the sector. Much of this disparity has been put down to a lack of representation, with few female role models working in cloud computing. It’s estimated that the number of large companies adopting a multi-cloud strategy in 2024 will grow to 85%, showing a clear demand for IT professionals who are experienced in cloud solutions.
Cybersecurity
The growth and development of the technology industry does have its drawbacks. As technology becomes more advanced, so do security threats from criminal hackers. Recent statistics estimate that there are over 2,000 cyber attacks happening every day – every 39 seconds on average. Cybersecurity skills like threat detection, risk management and being able to deal with a crisis are key for businesses to invest in in 2024. We expect to see a growth in the demand for cybersecurity techies, with 66% of CIOs saying that they plan to increase their investment in cybersecurity.The number of women choosing to work in the cybersecurity industry is increasing every year, with latest figures estimating that 24% of professionals in the space are women. With cybersecurity being such a vast sector, the opportunities for women are huge. Cyber skills can also be taught on the job, meaning the barriers to entry for women with little to no STEM experience are low, meaning cybersecurity is a great option to consider as a career move.Technology is an ever changing and dynamic industry which can be exciting and fulfilling to work in. Keeping your finger on the pulse of growing trends and new technologies is crucial if you want to progress your career in IT, and having a hunger for knowledge and growth can be really attractive qualities for hiring managers. We expect to see these five skill areas grow in a big way in 2024, and we’re sure that we’ll be talking about them for years to come.
