on 3/10/2021 by Cynthia Harvey
Collected at: https://www.informationweek.com/strategic-cio/10-hot-it-job-titles-for-2021/d/d-id/1340356?page_number=1
The technology job market is evolving. These are the roles most in demand right now.
The last 12 months have been something of a roller coaster ride for the technology labor market. A year ago, most IT teams were forced to make a sudden transition to supporting a primarily remote workforce. While they were still struggling to cope with this shift, US companies began laying off IT staff. According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the country lost 210,000 tech jobs between April and July. But then in August and September, companies began hiring again, adding 25,600 tech workers.
Given all that uncertainty, many IT professionals are wondering about their future career paths. Are their skills still in demand? Would they be able to find a new job if they needed to? And if not, what kind of skills and experience do they need to add to their resumes?
The good news is that technology workers are much better positioned to face the future than people who work in many other fields. In late 2020, the World Economic Forum (WEF) published a Future of Jobs Report that ranked the top 20 job titles with increasing demand. Twelve of the 20 are IT job titles.
But not all signs are equally positive.
Every year, staffing firm Robert Half Technology publishes a salary guide, and the 2021 guide highlights two key trends affecting the current IT job market. On the one hand, the transition to remote work and online sales has made companies more reliant than ever on technology. It says, “For many companies, technology has been a significant benefit during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing them to continue working and serving customers. This has placed greater emphasis on the need for skilled technology professionals to support critical operations and strategic initiatives.”
On the other hand, remote work means that employers can recruit job candidates from anywhere in the world. And that’s increased competition for open positions.
So, what are the most in-demand job titles in these turbulent and unusual times? The following slides highlight 10 IT job titles likely to see significant growth in 2021 and beyond.
1. Data Scientist
Data science has been one of the hottest job areas for several years now, and the pandemic has not changed that. According to the WEF, data scientist/analyst is the job role with the highest increasing demand across industries. Robert Half Technology listed data scientist as one of the year’s critical technology roles and noted that the median salary for data scientists is $129,000. At the time of writing, Indeed.com had 13,299 jobs listed for data scientists.
In order to get a job as a data scientist, you will need advanced data analysis skills and at least a master’s degree in math, statistics or a related field, and some require a doctorate.
2. Data Analyst
Data analysts often work hand in hand with data scientists, and the WEP actually listed the two types of positions as a single role. However, it’s worth noting that the two titles have very different requirements and average pay. While they do have a lot of experience with data analysis, data analysts generally do not have advanced degrees. Their compensation is much less as a result — a median of $103,250 in the United States, according to Robert Half Technology. There are also more positions available for data analysts. At the time of writing, job board Indeed.com had 19,241 data analyst positions listed.
3. AI/Machine Learning Specialist
The third hot job title on our list — AI/machine learning specialist — is closely related to the first two. Data scientists and data analysts often use machine learning tools and work closely with developers, engineers, and architects with artificial intelligence and ML expertise. The WEF report flagged this role as the one with the second-highest increasing demand across industries. AI/machine learning specialist also made the Robert Half list of critical technology roles. According to the firm, the median salary for AI architects is $148,000. At the time of writing, Indeed.com had 8,840 artificial intelligence and machine learning jobs posted.
Qualifications for these positions vary widely. In general, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree with several years’ experience with artificial intelligence and/or machine learning tools. Certifications may also help land a role.
4. Digital Transformation Specialist
Digital transformation specialist came in seventh on the WEF list of roles with increasing demand. The Robert Half report noted “The pre-pandemic tech talent shortage … prevented many firms from pursuing digital transformation at the desired pace. These organizations are now playing catch-up.”
At the time of writing, Indeed.com had 26,504 jobs related to digital transformation, but the pay and skills vary widely. For example, business transformation directors or vice presidents of digital transformation might need at least 10-15 years of related experience, while entry-level jobs might require a degree but a year or less of experience. Salaries also vary widely with listings on employment site Glassdoor as low as $44,000 and as high as $278,000.
5. Information Security Analyst
Cyberattacks climbed considerably during the pandemic, leading many organizations to increase their security hiring. Information security analyst was eighth on the WEF list of jobs roles increasing in demand, and Robert Half lists cybersecurity and data privacy experts as a critical technology role for 2021. Median salaries in the security field are as low as $118,000 for network security administrators and as high as $149,000 for information systems security managers.
6. Application Developer
For more than a decade, application developers have been in extremely high demand, and that isn’t changing. The WEF report placed software and application developers ninth on its list of roles with increasing demand, and Indeed.co had 58,868 application development jobs posted at the time of writing. The Robert Half report noted that “companies are seeking developers of all types to create new application and software services to support the business and, in turn, provide a competitive advantage.” US salaries for the job title average around $90,000, while senior application developers often earn more than $108,000.
7. IoT Specialist
The WEF report says Internet of Things (IoT) specialist ranks 10th on the list of job titles with increasing demand. This is a wide-ranging job title that can include architecting IoT systems, developing hardware and software for Internet-connected objects, analyzing IoT data, and much more. The Robert Half report lists IoT as a Critical Technology Function for 2021, and employment research firm Foote Partners recently said IoT is exploding. At the time of writing, Indeed.com had 956 IoT specialist jobs posted, as well as 5,550 IoT engineer positions. Salaries vary widely depending on the responsibilities of the role.
8. Project Manager
With so many people working remotely, keeping an entire project team on track is more difficult than ever, so it shouldn’t be surprising that project manager jobs are increasing. These professionals usually have at least a bachelor’s degree, and many also have professional certifications. Robert Half says that project management is one of the soft skills that employers seek most, and it adds that the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is one of the most highly sought after. US-based project managers can earn between $96,000 and $161,500 with a median salary of $114,750. At the time of writing, 53,083 project manager jobs were posted on Indeed.com.
9. Cloud Architect
Companies were already transitioning to the cloud before the pandemic, and the sudden disruptions merely accelerated that trend. The Robert Half report placed cloud architect on its list of critical technology roles, and it listed cloud computing skills related to Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud as some of the IT skills most in demand. Cloud architects also earn high salaries. US salaries for the title range between $121,000 and $202,500 with a median of $146,00. And Indeed.com had 65,780 cloud architect jobs available at the time of writing.
10. Software Engineer
Like application developers, software engineers are perennially in high demand. The two roles are somewhat similar as both require programming skills. However, software engineers typically apply engineering principles to the creation of software and approach the process from a systems perspective. They typically have more education than developers and programmers. They also often have leadership skills, which can make them more desirable as team members. Robert Half lists software engineers among its critical technology roles, and it reports that salaries for the title range between $103,750 and $172,500, with a median of $123,250. At the time of writing, employers had listed 96,241 software engineering jobs on Indeed.com.