IT staffing

Like every year, we need to be informed and stay on top of the top trends that IT leaders and recruiting professionals should have on their to-do list for 2024 hiring. These insights will help you make strategic workforce plans to access the technical talent and skills that will be in high demand.

Increased Demand for Cybersecurity Talent: With cyberattacks and data breaches on the rise, there will definitely be high demand for cybersecurity experts including analysts, engineers, and architects. Companies will seek security talent to protect systems, data, and users.

Global cybersecurity spending to reach $375 billion by 2026 (Gartner).

Increased Adoption of Automation: To improve efficiency, automation engineers who can design, build, test and maintain automated systems and processes using the latest tools like Robotic Process Automation will be in demand.

AI will automate 69% of repetitive tasks in knowledge work

Hybrid Workmodels Here to Stay: Hybrid models have become the norm, demanding talent comfortable in both environments as we have not completely gotten rid of Covid-19 as we still hear the presence of new variants.

IT staffing agencies can cater to this hybrid demand by:

• 1. Matching talent comfortable with remote and in-office environments.
• 2. Offering consulting services for businesses transitioning to hybrid models.

Global remote work rose by 87% in 2023 (Statista).

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Skills: AI and machine learning are being utilized across industries for automation, analytics, and decision-making. This will drive recruitment of AI specialists, machine learning engineers, data scientists, and algorithm developers.

Employee Skills to be Considered More: 60% of companies expressed plans to increase their spend on skills-based hiring in 2023, compared to 39% in 2022. Additionally, 58% of companies plan to use skills-based hiring more in the future, a 13% increase from 2022.

The share of recruiter searches on LinkedIn using skills filters has grown by 25% since 2019.

DE&I, still on the high!!: There will be greater push for more women, minorities and other diverse groups in executive and leadership roles in the tech industry. Companies will proactively address wage and opportunity gaps across gender, race and ethnicity in tech roles.

Companies with diverse leadership have 21% higher financial returns (McKinsey).

Clarity in Compensation: Modern employees increasingly value pay transparency, expressing a preference for job postings that provide clear details about salaries and roles with explicit salary ranges.

By understanding and embracing these trends, IT staffing agencies can equip themselves for success in the dynamic landscape of 2024. By investing in technology, human talent development, and DE&I initiatives, agencies can navigate the ever-changing needs of employers and candidates, ultimately playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of the IT workforce.

We hope these 2024 IT staffing trends provide useful insights for shaping your organization's hiring, training, and retention plans. While the fast-changing nature of technology makes it impossible to predict the IT sector too far into the future, being aware of projected talent needs allows you to be proactive and agile. To attract and retain skilled people in these emerging technology domains, managers need to focus on competitive compensation, strong technical training programs, and creating a positive and inclusive work culture. The future of technology moves fast, and IT staffing strategies must keep pace.

Feel free to reach out to discuss how to turn these IT staffing trends into actionable strategies that ensure your team is equipped with future-ready technical talent. The key is starting early with a keen eye on what skills will drive growth down the line.