Dive Brief:
- IT workers struggle to keep their skills up-to-date amid the fast pace of technology development, according to a Pluralsight survey published Wednesday. The company surveyed 500 current and aspiring tech workers.
- Half of current tech workers say they struggle to learn fast enough to keep pace with changes in technology, while nearly one-third of would-be technologists share the sentiment.
- Software engineering sits atop the list of priority skills to develop for current technologists, followed closely by cybersecurity and AI and machine learning.
Dive Insight:
A lack of in-house skills can block multiple enterprise tech priorities, from generative AI deployments to cloud migrations or software upgrades.
Though IT unemployment rates have crept up in 2024 compared to previous years, other indicators suggest an ongoing need for skilled technology workers across all industries. U.S. employers had more than half a million open technology postings in August, according to CompTIA data.
Generative AI deployment is helping drive up the demand for skilled technologists. Though the number of tech positions has grown more slowly in 2024 than last year, the share of AI roles across the sector has nearly doubled in the last five years, a CBRE report published in June found.
To address the talent gaps, companies are focusing on upskilling opportunities, though business leaders are concerned training might not meet the pace of development in fast moving technology categories.
The rise in demand has also prompted existing AI talent to review their prospects, as nearly three-quarters anticipate shifting employers in the coming year, according to a Dice report. More than half say they expect to improve their employment situation this year.
