A new survey from Robert Half Technology, a leading IT staffing company, finds technology executives anticipate strong IT hiring activity in the first half of 2018.
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Twenty-one percent of CIOs surveyed say they plan to add full-time technology professionals to their teams in the first six months of the year, the same as the second half of 2017, and up 5 points from the first half of 2017.
Top 12 Cities for Tech Hiring in 2018
The top U.S. cities where CIOs are expanding their technology teams in the first half of 2018 are:
- San Diego
- Atlanta
- New York
- Austin
- Charlotte
- Minneapolis
- Philadelphia
- Des Moines
- Miami
- Cleveland
- Phoenix
- Salt Lake City
Hiring Plans and Challenges
More than half (63 percent) of technology leaders interviewed expect to maintain staff levels by filling vacant roles. It continues to be a competitive market for technology talent, with 61 percent of hiring leaders indicating that it’s somewhat or very challenging to find skilled IT professionals.
In addition to hiring plans, the survey identifies skills in demand and top business priorities.
“Technology leaders hope to get ahead on critical initiatives such as cybersecurity projects or digital upgrades in the new year by bringing on more professionals with specialized skills,” said John Reed, senior executive director for Robert Half Technology. “Database, desktop support, development, and security skills are in high demand. To secure the best talent, tech leaders should act quickly when they find a great candidate and offer him or her a competitive compensation package.”
Skills in Demand
According to respondents, the skills in greatest demand within their organizations include:
- Database management (48 percent)
- Desktop support (44 percent)
- Telecommunications support (44 percent)
- Wireless network management (44 percent)
- Business intelligence/reporting services (44 percent)
Top Priorities
When it comes to their top priority for the next six months, 24 percent of CIOs say they will be focused on maintaining security of IT systems and safeguarding company information. Other priorities will include:
- Innovation and helping grow their businesses (22 percent)
- Upgrading existing systems for business efficiency (20 percent)
- Technology innovation and investing in new technologies (20 percent)
- Staff retention (13 percent)
“CIOs are tasked with ensuring the highest level of security and systems efficiency for their organizations while also pursuing continuous innovation,” said Reed. “The most successful companies make recruiting and retaining the best talent a constant priority.”
