5 IT Skills That Will Be In High Demand In 2016

The digital industry is currently going through an incredible state of change. Innovations such as IoT, the cloud and big data are completely transforming how companies are able to do business in 2016. The pace at which companies create new technology positions is not being met with an equal supply of skilled professionals to fill these vacancies. This is creating a digital IT skills gap which poses a significant problem for the growth of the technology industry. Here are some of the roles that are in high demand in 2016.

Data Scientists

Big data is an essential commodity in 2016. Businesses are reliant on data to keep them informed about the digital progress of their organisation. Data can help organisations to discover in-depth information regarding marketing efforts, sales achievements, customer behaviour and the success rates of their internal operations. However, pure data is not useful without the ability to interpret, analyse and convert it into actionable information. Data scientists are required by many types of industries to build systems that have the ability to capture data and make it readable by team members in various key areas. Data scientists will also need to provide methods for employees to easily share and present information to other teams, senior management or customers.

Cloud Architects

CompTIA’s 5th Annual Trends in Cloud Computing report states that more than 90% of companies have adopted the cloud on some level. Whether a business utilises SaaS, IaaS or PaaS technology there will often be a requirement for an individual with cloud architecture IT skills to oversee the cloud infrastructure in the organisation. The role involves managing app architecture and deployment in public, private or even hybrid cloud environments. Often cloud architects are hired into a role before the company has moved their systems to the cloud. This is important as a cloud architect can design the layout and implementation of the cloud solution. The technical aspects of the role will require specialist cloud IT skills. However, architects may also need to get involved in the legal implications of a move to the cloud, which will include understanding regulatory considerations and service-level agreements. Cloud architects must also be able and willing to keep abreast of current industry trends and issues.

Cybersecurity Professionals

The increasing threat of cyber security breaches and hacking scandals have seen high-profile companies lose millions in terms of both finances and reputation. Unfortunately cyber threats are notoriously difficult to keep up with, as hackers will continuously find new ways to expose the weak areas of a particular application, platform or environment. Therefore companies are recognising the importance in hiring professionals with IT skills in cybersecurity to help them secure their systems and protect them from ruin. Unfortunately there is an enormous cybersecurity skills gap at the moment, so those with security qualifications are in extremely high demand. Employees with existing experience in other areas of niche technology with the willingness to train in current cybersecurity trends are also likely to be considered for these vacancies.

UI/UX Designers

As consumers in 2016 become ever more impatient, they require ease of use for each type of platform they utilise for their communication and leisure needs. Whether they’re online for shopping, messaging, business or gaming, users will respond well to interfaces that boast a clean design which is seamless and intuitive. Companies that have invested in a design with these qualities will find that they have the edge over their competitors. User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) vacancies are created by organisations who want to improve the design and usability of their software interfaces.

Mobile Engineers

Mobile platforms have now surpassed desktop technology in terms of usage. Consumers regularly browse their mobiles to check messages or access applications whilst working remotely or even within the workplace. Insights from ComScore suggest that smartphone usage is up 394% and a staggering 21% of millennials no longer use desktops to go online at all. Unsurprising then is the recognised need for mobile engineers to keep up with market trends and be able to supply consumers with a robust platform to perform their daily activities on. In particular cross-platform mobile development professionals with the ability to support development stacks across multiple devices are in demand this year.

If you have IT skills in niche technology and would like to utilise your talents in one of these exciting roles, then get in touch with us. Our highly trained recruitment experts with specialist industry experience are able to understand your past roles and work out which current positions offer you the best prospects for your niche enterprise technology career. We will assist you in every aspect of the recruitment process from giving you CV tips, to holding interview walk-throughs and negotiating contracts for you. Want to know more? Get in touch today.